Utah and Iowa: two states with vastly different landscapes and, arguably, sports cultures. They face off in everything from college football to wrestling. But let’s narrow our focus.
Using what information we have available, we’re going to compare their basketball programs — both men’s and women’s.
Women’s Basketball: Utah’s victory over Iowa State
The Utah Utes triumphed over the Iowa State Cyclones with a final score of 75-67 in a recent Big 12 conference game, demonstrating Utah’s strength on the court. The Utes controlled the lead for most of the game.
Mayé Touré led Utah with a season-high 24 points, along with a career-high 4 three-pointers. Kennady McQueen was perfect from beyond the arc, making all three of her shots.
Statistically, Utah outperformed Iowa State with a higher field goal percentage (47.3% vs. 42.1%) and superior 3-point shooting (50.0% vs. 25.0%). Utah also had more assists (18 to Iowa State’s 17) and bench points (14 to Iowa State’s 5).
Men’s Basketball: Game Highlights and Key Moments
Here’s a look back at some memorable moments from recent matchups between the Utah Utes and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Utah Utes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (December 22, 2024)
This game, played at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, drew a crowd of 3,367 fans. Video highlights of the game’s most exciting plays are available to view.
Utah Utes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (March 25, 2024)
Back on March 25, 2024, the Utes hosted the Hawkeyes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 3,804 fans cheered on the teams.
Notable plays from this game included:
- Lawson Lovering’s slam dunk
- Deivon Smith’s assist
- Branden Carlson’s dunk
How are the teams performing?
The Utah women’s basketball team is currently 12-2 overall and undefeated in the Big 12 at 3-0. They also have a strong record against Iowa State, winning all five of their matchups.
Utah’s upcoming schedule includes games against Kansas State and Houston. More broadly, Utah’s sports teams are generally considered competitive, as are Iowa’s, though which state is “better” depends on the sport and the season.
Key Takeaways
The rivalry between Utah and Iowa, especially on the basketball court, makes for some great games. While this comparison focuses on basketball, it’s safe to say that any competition between these two states is bound to be worth watching.