IOWA CITY – The Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team lost a tough conference-opening game to the Indiana Hoosiers Monday, 69-65, in front of a sold-out crowd at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Indiana opened up with a 7-4 lead and only briefly let Iowa get in front, a 5 point lead with 9:52 left in the first half. Indiana’s largest lead was 10 with 16:07 left in the second half.
Aaron White scored 15 points for Iowa, marking the eighth time he has led the team in scoring this season.
Iowa guard Mike Gesell scored in double figures for the fifth time in his career. He scored 13 points.
With 14 points, Roy Devyn Marble scored in double digits for the 13th time this season. He made a career-high 12 free throws, going 12-of-13 from the charity stripe. However, Marble was just 1-14 from the field and that may have been the difference in the game.
“He didn’t turn it over. I love him,” said Coach Fran McCaffery of Marble’s performance. “He fights for me every night out, and you know, he didn’t want to shoot 1‑for‑14. ”
Iowa had plenty of chances to tie or take a lead in the game, but the highly-ranked Hoosiers matched Iowa shot for shot and seemed to come up with a stop every time it needed one.
Cody Zeller, one of the nation’s top big men, scored 19 points and brought in 10 rebounds for Indiana in the winning effort.
Iowa pulled to within 3 after a foul shot by Roy Marble, but couldn’t convert a couple of three point attempts that could have tied the game in the closing minute.
McCaffery said after the game his team will go back to work and try to improve.
“We are pleased with our play. We are pleased with the effort of some individuals.”
