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Likes, dislikes from Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska

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Likes, dislikes from Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska


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IOWA CITY — Iowa men’s basketball defeated No. 9 Nebraska 57-52 on Feb. 17 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 25 points and Cooper Koch added 10 as the Hawkeyes tallied their first victory against a ranked team in the Ben McCollum era. The Hawkeyes handed Nebraska just their fourth loss this season.

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The Hawkeyes improved to 19-7 and 9-6 in Big Ten play. The Huskers are 22-4 and 11-4.

Here are likes and dislikes from the game.

Likes

  • Bennett Stirtz’s effort: It wasn’t Stirtz’s most efficient game. He scored 25 points on 8-of-22 from the field. But so much of the playmaking and scoring burden was on his shoulders. He also spent a substantial amount of time guarding Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska’s leading scorer. Just an incredible showing of determination by Stirtz.
  • Stirtz in crunch time: Stirtz was the best player on the floor down the stretch and willed the Hawkeyes to victory.
  • Rebounding: Iowa’s work on the glass played an important part in the game. The Hawkeyes dominated on the boards, outrebounding Nebraska 37-24.
  • Offensive rebounding: This category was 12-2 in favor Iowa. This came up big in crunch time. The Hawkeyes didn’t capitalize them as much as they could’ve but still outscored Nebraska 8-4 in second-chance points.
  • Defense: The Hawkeyes were smothering on the defensive end. Nebraska was held to just 41% from the field and 21% from deep. The Cornhuskers also turned it over 12 times. Nebraska was held to a season-low 52 points. Their previous low was 58 against Michigan State.
  • Limiting Pryce Sandfort: The former Hawkeye wasn’t totally shut down, scoring 13 points, but Iowa made life difficult on him and held him below his season average. Sandfort only got up seven shots from the field and was 2-of-6 from deep. Credit to Stirtz for helping contain Sandfort.
  • Free throws: The Hawkeyes took advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, shooting 17-of-18 from the free-throw line.
  • Tavion Banks: He was great on the boards, hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds. He also scored six points. Iowa coach Ben McCollum said Banks was “probably the unsung hero.”
  • Signature win: Iowa picks up its first signature win of the Ben McCollum era. This is a resume-building victory for the Hawkeyes with the NCAA Tournament on the horizon.
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Video: Ben McCollum reacts to Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska

Ben McCollum meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 57-52 win over Nebraska.

Dislikes

  • Turnovers: Iowa had been taking care of the ball incredibly well, but that wasn’t the case against Nebraska. The Hawkeyes turned the ball over 12 times. Nine of those came in the first half. That was the first time since Jan. 28 against USC that Iowa’s turnovers were in double-figures.
  • Offense: Another rough showing by Iowa’s offense, which struggled for the third game in a row. The Hawkeyes shot just 33% from the field and 26% from deep. Pretty brutal game shooting for the Hawkeyes.
  • Not enough help outside of Stirtz: There were contributions sprinkled in here and there. Cooper Koch had 10 points and Alvaro Folgueiras had seven. But so much of the scoring and playmaking burden was on Stirtz.
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Video: Bennett Stirtz, Cooper Koch react to Iowa’s win over Nebraska

Bennett Stirtz and Cooper Koch meet with media after Iowa basketball’s 57-52 win over Nebraska.

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Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com



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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection


LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

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Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

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“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

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“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

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Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

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Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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