CHAMPAGNE, ILL. – Iowa was edged by #20 Illinois in its regular season finale, 74-72, Sunday in a Big Ten road game.
Iowa lost for just the second time in 10 games, dating back to Feb. 6. Tonight snapped a four-game road win streak for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten standings with a 12-8 league record. The Hawkeyes earned the No. 5 seed at the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament later this week in Indianapolis. Iowa has secured a top five seed in the last three Big Ten Tournaments (2020, 2021, 2022).
Iowa has finished fifth place or better in the Big Ten regular season standings six of the last eight years.
Sophomore Kris Murray’s 3-point attempt from the corner missed at the buzzer.
Iowa has lost by five points or less in each of its last three visits to the State Farm Center (74-72 in 2022; 80-75 in 2021; 78-76 in 2020).
Two Hawkeyes posted double-doubles tonight: Keegan Murray and Tony Perkins.
All-America candidate Keegan Murray posted his team-leading ninth double-double of the season (22 points, 11 rebounds); he also rejected a game-best four shots. Murray is fourth in Iowa single-season scoring with 698 points. The 698 points are the most by any Hawkeye sophomore in program history (previous best was 553 by Chris Kingsbury in 1996).
Sophomore Tony Perkins registered his first double-double of his career, totaling 17 points and a personal-best 12 rebounds. Perkins has netted double figures in scoring three of the last four contests.
Redshirt sophomore Patrick McCaffery did not play in tonight’s game (hip/non-covid illness).
Tonight was Iowa’s fourth straight “Senior Night” game, playing three on the road and one at home (3-1).
UP NEXT
No. 24 Iowa (22-9, 12-8) will open Big Ten Tournament play on Thursday at approximately 1 p.m. (CT) against the winner of Nebraska-Northwestern in Indianapolis.
