NCAAB · Final

Iowa Hawkeyes Edge Northwestern Wildcats in Close Contest

Sunday, February 8, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Iowa Hawkeyes 76, Northwestern Wildcats 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Northwestern Wildcats vs Iowa Hawkeyes?

Iowa Hawkeyes beat Northwestern Wildcats 76-70 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 8, 2026.

Who was favored in Northwestern Wildcats vs Iowa Hawkeyes?

Iowa Hawkeyes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -850 (about 89% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested matchup, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a victory against the Northwestern Wildcats with a final score of 76-70 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This game showcased the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with Iowa continuing its strong performance while Northwestern struggled to find consistency. Iowa's win extended their current winning streak to five games, highlighting their impressive form as they aim for a strong finish to the season. The Hawkeyes' record now stands at 19-5, while the Wildcats fall to 10-15.

Iowa entered the game with a home record of 12-1 and had been averaging 75.5 points per game over their last ten outings, while allowing 67.8 points. Their recent form included victories against teams like the Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks, both of which they defeated by significant margins. In contrast, Northwestern had been struggling, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games and an average of 68.3 points scored, while allowing 76.5 points per game. Their recent performances included a heavy loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini, where they were defeated 44-84.

The home advantage was clear for Iowa, who had won their last five games and averaged 76.6 points while allowing 66.2 points during that stretch. Meanwhile, Northwestern's away record was a disappointing 1-4 in their last five games, contributing to their overall struggles this season. Historically, the teams had split their previous two meetings, with Iowa winning the last encounter in December 2025 by a narrow margin of 80-79.

In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details on player availability, but it is known that injuries can significantly impact team performance, especially in close games like this one. The betting market reflected Iowa's strong position, with DraftKings listing them as 10.5-point favorites, indicating confidence in their ability to secure a win.

The game conditions were typical for a February evening in Iowa, with a lively crowd supporting the Hawkeyes. Fans witnessed a competitive matchup where Iowa managed to maintain control despite a late push from Northwestern. Key moments included late-game scoring plays that solidified Iowa's lead, including a crucial dunk from Cooper Koch that brought the score to 76-70.

Viewers should have noted the tactical adjustments made by both coaches throughout the game, particularly in the second half, where scoring became more aggressive. Iowa's ability to convert free throws in critical moments, particularly from Tavion Banks, proved vital in sealing their victory. Overall, this matchup not only highlighted the current dynamics of both teams but also set the stage for Iowa as they continue their pursuit of postseason success.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	IOWA -10.5	139.5 o -110 / u -110	Northwestern Wildcats +575 · Iowa Hawkeyes -850

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsBennett Stirtz36Iowa Hawkeyes
AssistsAlvaro Folgueiras3Iowa Hawkeyes
ReboundsTavion Banks7Iowa Hawkeyes
PointsNick Martinelli21Northwestern Wildcats
AssistsJake West4Northwestern Wildcats
ReboundsAngelo Ciaravino5Northwestern Wildcats

Recent form

Iowa Hawkeyes

Last 10: 7-3Streak W575.5 scored · 67.8 allowed per game4-1 at home

W84-74at Washington HuskiesFeb 5
W84-66at Oregon DucksFeb 2
W73-72vs USC TrojansJan 29
W68-62vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 21
W74-57at Indiana HoosiersJan 17
L72-79at Purdue BoilermakersJan 14
L69-75vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 11
L67-70at Minnesota Golden GophersJan 7
W74-61vs UCLA BruinsJan 3
W90-62vs UMass Lowell River HawksDec 29

Northwestern Wildcats

Last 10: 2-8Streak L268.3 scored · 76.5 allowed per game1-4 away

L44-84at Illinois Fighting IlliniFeb 5
L62-76vs Washington HuskiesFeb 1
W94-73vs Penn State Nittany LionsJan 30
L64-71at UCLA BruinsJan 24
W74-68at USC TrojansJan 22
L58-77vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 17
L68-79vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 15
L75-77at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 11
L66-76at Michigan State SpartansJan 8
L78-84vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 3

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
Michigan	37-3	-	19-1
Nebraska	28-7	4	15-5
Michigan State	27-8	4	15-5
Illinois	28-9	4	15-5
Wisconsin	24-11	5	14-6
Purdue	30-9	6	13-7
UCLA	24-12	6	13-7
Ohio State	21-13	7	12-8
Iowa	24-13	9	10-10
Indiana	18-14	10	9-11
Minnesota	15-18	11	8-12
USC	18-14	12	7-13
Washington	16-17	12	7-13
Rutgers	14-20	13	6-14
Northwestern	15-19	14	5-15
Oregon	12-20	14	5-15
Maryland	12-21	15	4-16
Penn State	12-20	16	3-17

Box score

Stat	Northwestern Wildcats	Iowa Hawkeyes
Field goals	21-45	24-53
Field goal %	47	45
Three-pointers	8-14	5-16
Three-point %	57	31
Free throws	20-22	23-29
Free throw %	91	79
Rebounds	22	34
Offensive rebounds	3	13
Defensive rebounds	19	21
Assists	10	12
Steals	2	6
Blocks	2	0
Turnovers	10	8
Team turnovers	1	1
Technical fouls	1	0
Technical fouls, total	1	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	5	14
Fast-break points	0	5
Points in the paint	20	36
Fouls	25	16
Largest lead	6	14
Lead changes	3	3
Time in front	26	61

How the scoring went

2nd Half37-44Tre Singleton makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half38-44Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half39-44Jayden Reid makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half40-44Jayden Reid makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half40-46Tavion Banks makes layup (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)
2nd Half40-49Cooper Koch makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tavion Banks assists)
2nd Half40-51Bennett Stirtz makes driving layup
2nd Half40-54Bennett Stirtz makes 26-foot three point jumper (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)
2nd Half43-54Jake West makes 25-foot three point jumper
2nd Half44-54Angelo Ciaravino makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half45-54Angelo Ciaravino makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half46-54Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half46-56Tate Sage makes 0-foot tip in layup
2nd Half48-56Tre Singleton makes layup (Jake West assists)
2nd Half49-56Tre Singleton makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half51-56Jake West makes 1-foot dunk
2nd Half53-56Nick Martinelli makes 12-foot jumper
2nd Half53-59Bennett Stirtz makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kael Combs assists)
2nd Half53-61Bennett Stirtz makes 7-foot jumper (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)
2nd Half55-61Nick Martinelli makes 9-foot hook shot
2nd Half55-63Alvaro Folgueiras makes driving layup (Bennett Stirtz assists)
2nd Half56-63Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half57-63Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half58-63Tyler Kropp makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half59-63Tyler Kropp makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half59-64Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half59-65Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half59-68Bennett Stirtz makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
2nd Half61-68Jake West makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half61-69Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half61-70Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half62-70Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half63-70Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half64-70Nick Martinelli makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half67-70Jake West makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
2nd Half67-72Bennett Stirtz makes driving layup
2nd Half67-73Tavion Banks makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half67-74Tavion Banks makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half70-74Nick Martinelli makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jake West assists)
2nd Half70-76Cooper Koch makes 4-foot dunk