After a disappointing home loss to then-No. 12 Purdue on Feb. 14, Iowa basketball (19-7, 9-6 Big Ten) responded with a 57-52 upset victory over No. 9 Nebraska (22-4, 11-4 Big Ten) for its first Top 25 win since the Hawkeyes defeated the then-No. 20 Wisconsin exactly two years prior.
As he has done almost all year, senior guard Bennett Stirtz paved the way offensively with a game-high 25 points on 8-for-22 from the field, 2-for-8 from 3-point territory, and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
Naturally, Hawkeyes fans flocked to social media to celebrate the exciting victory over the Cornhuskers and commemorate head coach Ben McCollum's first Top 25 victory at the helm of the program.
Great to see Iowa still owns Nebraska!! #GoHawks
— Mark Gronowski (@mgronowski11) February 18, 2026
Way to go @IowaHoops ! Awesome win over Nebraska! So happy for Coach McCollum, staff & team! Great job, fellas! Keep on rollin’!👊🏼
— Jan Jensen (@goiowa) February 18, 2026
pov watching Nebraska try to beat Iowa in literally anything pic.twitter.com/ngUhQrqHN7
— Hawkeye Nate (@HawkeyeNate21) February 18, 2026
— McCollum’s Mafia (@IowaHoopsfan) February 18, 2026
https://t.co/tQ1ZdA5BrPpic.twitter.com/Idda04ZLRs
— Probably at DC’s (@WhyWeDrinkHere) February 18, 2026
Nebraska’s run in the Top 10 pic.twitter.com/anls0ATBZm
— 𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖗 𝕻𝖎𝖑𝖘 (@TheConnorPils) February 18, 2026
Big time win tonight — congrats boys!! Carver was rocking and the student section brought it all night. That’s the energy — let’s keep stacking wins. #TogetherWeFightForIowahttps://t.co/lzzvyoYnQI
— Beth Goetz (@bgoetz12) February 18, 2026
This was a court storm many years in the making.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 18, 2026
This was a court storm to fully usher in a new era.
This was a court storm Carver-Hawkeye Arena needed.
And Iowa finally delivered. pic.twitter.com/OJEQR0MrwW
Swag Surfing on Pryce Sandfort was fun.
— Stirtz SZN (@TheMcCollumEra) February 18, 2026
Go Hawks! pic.twitter.com/zi4H6jVRbh
Court storm in Iowa City. pic.twitter.com/WZNZQdXEe9
— Chris Meglio (@chris_meglio) February 18, 2026
Never a doubt. Go Hawks. pic.twitter.com/49DYwwGyza
— Sam (@sammmidd) February 18, 2026
The players deserve this and so do the students who really showed out tonight great atmosphere. Great win! pic.twitter.com/blM0td9IXH
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) February 18, 2026
"This is surreal. We needed this win."
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) February 18, 2026
Bennett Stirtz chats with @TheAndyKatz after leading @IowaHoops to victory over rival and No. 9 Nebraska 👇 pic.twitter.com/Vvrb4Cukob
Inside the locker room after the W 😁 pic.twitter.com/Pvu7YCBpCp
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 18, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Hawkeyes fans react to Iowa basketball's 57-52 win vs. Nebraska