Matt Gatens scored 18 points as Iowa beat Penn State 77-64 on Saturday.
Bryce Cartwright and Aaron White each scored 17 for the Hawkeyes (13-11, 5-6 Big Ten), who won their second straight after losing five of their previous six games.
Tim Frazier scored 23 points to lead the Nittany Lions (10-13, 2-8), who have lost four straight and seven of their last eight.
Iowa led by as many as 26 points in the second half, but Penn State trimmed the deficit to 50-36 with 13 minutes left. The Hawkeyes held their ground, and that lead never shrunk below double digits.
Iowa opened with a 16-2 lead, and Penn State managed only three baskets in the first 14 minutes.
The Hawkeyes celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 1986-87 team, which won a school-record 30 games and reached the Elite Eight, with gold throwback jerseys and a pregame ceremony.
