Photo by: Keith Lucas
Men’s Basketball to Play Iowa in Des Moines on Dec. 20, Game Will be Homecoming for Ruot Bijiek
5/28/2025 12:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Global Sports Management announced today that Bucknell and Iowa will meet in a men's basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, Dec. 20. Tip-off time is to be determined, and tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 6, at noon Eastern time.
The game will be a homecoming for Bucknell rising senior forward Ruot Bijiek, who is a native of Waukee, Iowa, a western suburb of Des Moines. Bijiek has played in all 98 games for the Bison over the last three seasons, and in 2024-25 he averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while helping his team to a share of the Patriot League regular-season title.
Bijiek was born in Ames, Iowa and is one of eight siblings. He attended Valley High School, where he earned Second Team Class 4A All-State and First Team All-Conference honors as a senior. Bijiek led the team to a 21-4 record and a league title that season, and he also played on the AAU circuit with OSA Crusaders and Bradley Beal Elite before coming to Bucknell.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to play back home in downtown Des Moines at the Wells Fargo Center," said Bijiek, who scored a career-high 20 points against Maryland, another Big Ten program, last season. "It's not every day you get to compete at this level in your hometown, in front of the people who've been part of your journey from the start. I take a lot of pride in where I'm from, and it means a lot to represent Bucknell on that stage. I'm hoping to see a lot of familiar faces in the stands — it's going to be a special day."
The Bison went 18-15 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League in head coach John Griffin III's second season at the helm. They will be taking on an Iowa squad that will be guided by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who just last season led Drake to a 31-win season, Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and a first-round win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament.
Five members of that Drake team have joined McCollum at Iowa, including 2025 MVC Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz.
The Bison and Hawkeyes have met just once previously. Iowa, ranked No. 15 at the time, won 91-52 in Iowa City on Dec. 28, 1997.
The remainder of Bucknell's 2025-26 schedule will be announced later this summer.
The game will be a homecoming for Bucknell rising senior forward Ruot Bijiek, who is a native of Waukee, Iowa, a western suburb of Des Moines. Bijiek has played in all 98 games for the Bison over the last three seasons, and in 2024-25 he averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while helping his team to a share of the Patriot League regular-season title.
Bijiek was born in Ames, Iowa and is one of eight siblings. He attended Valley High School, where he earned Second Team Class 4A All-State and First Team All-Conference honors as a senior. Bijiek led the team to a 21-4 record and a league title that season, and he also played on the AAU circuit with OSA Crusaders and Bradley Beal Elite before coming to Bucknell.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to play back home in downtown Des Moines at the Wells Fargo Center," said Bijiek, who scored a career-high 20 points against Maryland, another Big Ten program, last season. "It's not every day you get to compete at this level in your hometown, in front of the people who've been part of your journey from the start. I take a lot of pride in where I'm from, and it means a lot to represent Bucknell on that stage. I'm hoping to see a lot of familiar faces in the stands — it's going to be a special day."
The Bison went 18-15 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League in head coach John Griffin III's second season at the helm. They will be taking on an Iowa squad that will be guided by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who just last season led Drake to a 31-win season, Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and a first-round win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament.
Five members of that Drake team have joined McCollum at Iowa, including 2025 MVC Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz.
The Bison and Hawkeyes have met just once previously. Iowa, ranked No. 15 at the time, won 91-52 in Iowa City on Dec. 28, 1997.
The remainder of Bucknell's 2025-26 schedule will be announced later this summer.
Players Mentioned
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