Scott Dochterman, CR Gazette –
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Iowa had its third Big Ten road win in the bag Tuesday night, only to squander it away in Mackey Arena.
Iowa led by 11 points late in the first half, only give up the lead and then some in a 75-68 loss at Purdue. It was a frustrating game for the Hawkeyes, which started strong only to fade in pivotal moments. It was the Hawkeyes’ fifth straight loss at Purdue.
“We came out as the tougher team,” said Iowa sophomore Zach McCabe, who had a career-high 20 points. “We were executing offensively and defensively we were getting stops. But towards the end of the first half it looked like some of us were getting tired or something like that. They just went on a run and it got to five, and it continued from the first half to the second half.”
Iowa (11-9, 3-4 Big Ten) led 34-23 after Bryce Cartwright sank one of two free throws with 2:57 left in the first half. At that point, Iowa was efficient on offense. But the defense lapsed the rest of the half. Purdue outscored Iowa 8-2, and the Hawkeyes led 36-31 at halftime.
“We had it to 11, we were on the free-throw line getting ready to make it 12, they battled back to get it to five,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. “We had a couple of chances offensively. (We) didn’t convert, and they did.”
Purdue extended its first-half run to 30-9, overlapping the last 2:40 of the first half and the first 8:28 of the second half. The Boilermakers took a 53-43 lead and were the aggressors at both ends of the floor.
“I think they kind of out-toughed us, out-rebounded us,” Iowa guard Devyn Marble said. “I think our defense was pretty fine, but they were getting second shots, and that’s what killed us. I think our initial 30-to-35-second defense was pretty good, but they just out-rebounded us and that fueled that run.”
But Iowa rallied with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit to 53-51 with 10:23 left in the game. Marble and Matt Gatens each drained a pair of free throws. Aaron White then followed his own missed shot, and Marble followed with another basket.
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Then the momentum stalled for Iowa. Purdue came up with steals on consecutive possessions, and Cartwright missed an open jumper. Purdue scored on five straight trips up the court, while Iowa managed just one McCabe shot. Iowa had four turnovers in six possessions, and the Boilermakers were back up by 10.
Purdue blasted Iowa on the boards, especially in the second half. The Boilermakers grabbed nine offensive rebounds after halftime — 16 in total — while Iowa managed eight for the game.
“It’s going to be hard on the road,” McCaffery said about Purdue’s offensive rebounds. “And nine turnovers in the second half. Some of it was fatigue, some of it was poor decision making, some of it was they were executing.”
McCabe came up big for Iowa in both halves. Of his 20 points, he scored 13 in the first half and sank three 3-pointers. He played a career-high 36 minutes and grabbed five rebounds and had two blocks.
“People left me open, (and) I’m going to shoot it,” McCabe said. “That’s what seems to have been happening in the last couple of games, and that’s the type of player I am.
“(I) just try to be a versatile player and be a team player also.”
Marble added 18 points and had five rebounds for Iowa. Robbie Hummel scored 17 to lead Purdue (14-5, 4-2).
Iowa now is off until Jan. 26, when it plays host to Nebraska.
IOWA (11-9)
Basabe 0-0 1-2 1, McCabe 7-13 3-7 20, Marble 6-10 5-6 18, Gatens 4-9 3-4 12, May 0-4 1-2 1, Oglesby 0-1 0-0 0, Brommer 0-0 0-0 0, Cartwright 3-6 1-2 7, White 2-6 5-7 9, Archie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 19-30 68.
PURDUE (14-5)
Hummel 5-14 6-7 17, Barlow 4-10 3-5 11, Jackson 3-5 8-11 14, Smith 3-7 3-4 12, Carroll 3-3 2-2 8, T. Johnson 4-10 2-4 10, A. Johnson 1-4 0-0 2, Byrd 0-2 1-2 1, Hart 0-1 0-0 0, Lawson 0-0 0-0 0, Marcius 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 25-35 75.
Halftime_Iowa 36-31. 3-Point Goals_Iowa 5-12 (McCabe 3-5, Marble 1-2, Gatens 1-2, White 0-1, Cartwright 0-1, May 0-1), Purdue 4-15 (Smith 3-6, Hummel 1-6, Hart 0-1, Byrd 0-2). Fouled Out_May. Rebounds_Iowa 32 (Gatens 6), Purdue 41 (Hummel 11). Assists_Iowa 10 (Cartwright, Marble 3), Purdue 12 (Hummel, Jackson, Smith 3). Total Fouls_Iowa 25, Purdue 23. A_14,134.
