SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering reversal of momentum, the Iowa Hawkeyes overcame a 14-point first-half deficit with a dominant second-half performance to defeat the Washington Huskies 84 to 74 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sold-out Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 6,904, was a tale of two halves. Washington, energized at home, executed a fluid offensive game plan in the opening period, building a 48 to 41 lead at intermission. The Huskies shot a blistering 62.5% from the field in the first half, with point guard Zoom Diallo of Tacoma orchestrating the attack and center Hannes Steinbach of Wurzburg, Germany, providing an efficient interior presence.

Iowa’s defense, however, transformed after the break. Applying increased pressure, the Hawkeyes forced Washington into a series of costly mistakes while simultaneously finding their own offensive rhythm. The Huskies, who committed only four turnovers in the first half, coughed the ball up eight times in the second, leading to easy transition opportunities for Iowa. Washington’s shooting plummeted to 36% in the final 20 minutes, scoring just 26 points after the break.

The most important part of the game was a decisive 17-2 run by Iowa that spanned the midpoint of the second half, turning a narrow 56-54 lead into a commanding 73-56 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining. The surge was fueled by stifling defense and the scoring of Bennett Stirtz. The run included a critical sequence where Stirtz stole the ball from Washington’s Quimari Peterson and finished with a dunk on the other end, forcing a Washington timeout that failed to stem the tide.

Stirtz, a guard from Liberty, Missouri, led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists in 40 minutes, serving as the steadying force for Iowa throughout the comeback. His backcourt leadership was pivotal in managing the game against Washington’s early surge.

Diallo was brilliant in defeat for the Huskies, recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists in 38 minutes, but his eight turnovers proved damaging under Iowa’s second-half pressure. Steinbach led Washington with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and contributed two blocks.

Iowa’s victory was a model of efficiency. The Hawkeyes committed a remarkably low three turnovers for the entire game, compared to 12 for Washington. Despite attempting nine fewer free throws, Iowa’s ability to protect the ball and generate high-percentage shots proved decisive. They shot 59.6% from the field for the game and connected on 9 of 19 three-point attempts.

Key contributions came from across the Iowa roster. Forward Alvaro Folgueiras of Malaga, Spain, provided a major spark off the bench, scoring 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 17 minutes. His interior scoring during the first half kept Iowa within striking distance. Forward Tavion Banks of Kansas City, Missouri, added 11 points, while forward Cooper Koch of Peoria, Illinois, also chipped in 11 points.

For Washington, Wesley Yates of Beaumont, Texas, scored 15 points, Bryson Tucker of Bowie, Maryland, added 10, and Peterson finished with 11 points.

The win improves Iowa’s record to 17-5 overall as they continue a strong stretch of play, having won five of their last six games. The loss drops Washington to 12-11 on the season. The Hawkeyes will return to Big Ten Conference play on Sunday when they host Northwestern. Washington continues its homestand with a Pac-12 matchup against UCLA on Saturday.

According to pregame analytics from Interstat, Iowa was projected with a 63.3% probability to win and entered the game as a 1.5-point favorite. The combined score of 158 points surpassed the over/under line of 138.5.