Key Highlights
- Iowa basketball returns to action with its first game of 2026 against UCLA.
- Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA as the senior forward averages 19.0 points per game.
- The Bruins enter on a three-game winning streak, while Iowa is 11-2 in the season.
- Iowa and UCLA have an even series history, with Iowa leading by one win overall.
Game Overview: Iowa vs. UCLA
In its upcoming match on January 3, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Iowa Hawkeyes will face off against the UCLA Bruins in a key matchup of Big Ten Conference teams.
Tipoff Time and Streaming Options
The game is scheduled to tip off at 5:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Peacock, with Paul Burmeister providing play-by-play commentary alongside Jess Settles offering color analysis.
Team Previews and Key Players
Iowa enters the game following a dominant performance against UMass Lowell, where senior guard Bennett Stirtz poured in 22 points. Stirtz also dished out eight assists and had two steals.
In contrast, UCLA arrives on a three-game winning streak with senior forward Tyler Bilodeau leading the charge. Bilodeau averages 19.0 points per game on 54.8% shooting from the field and 46.7% from beyond the arc. Three other Bruins contribute double-digit scoring: Senior guard Skyy Clark (14.2 points), senior guard Donovan Dent (12.6 points), and junior guard Eric Dailey Jr. (10.6 points).
Series History
The all-time series between Iowa and UCLA stands at 5-4 in favor of the Hawkeyes, with both teams winning two games apiece in Iowa City. However, UCLA secured a narrow victory over Iowa last season, winning 94-70 in Los Angeles on January 17.
The matchup promises to be an exciting contest between two formidable Big Ten teams, each looking to maintain their respective form as the season progresses.