Magical Iowa basketball season ends vs. Illinois: Final score, recap
The Iowa Hawkeyes' magical NCAA Tournament run ended with a 71-59 loss to the Illinois Illini. Iowa's senior point guard Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points in the final game, but Illinois' size and athleticism proved too much for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa's NCAA Tournament run ended with a loss to Illinois. The Illini dominated the Hawkeyes on the glass and in points in the paint, outrebounding Iowa 38-21. Iowa's Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points, while freshman Tate Sage added 10 points. The Illini used a 40-12 edge in points in the paint to reach the Final Four. The loss ends Iowa's season, but the team's tournament run may have changed the program's trajectory. Iowa fought hard despite a size disadvantage, but Illinois' athleticism ultimately won out.
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