IOWA CITY – Iowa trailed by double digits with just over a minute to play against relentless Michigan State, but a Peyton Sandfort 3-pointer with seconds left sent the game to overtime where the Hawkeyes scratched out a 112-106 victory over the Spartans.
Iowa got 72 points from Kris Murray (26), Tony Perkins (24) and Sandfort (22).
The game was a “gold-out” and was sold out days ago.
Iowa improves to 18-11 and 10-8 in league play. Michigan State drops to 17-11 and 9-8.
Iowa trailed by 11 points with 55 seconds remaining in regulation and ultimately won in overtime. Iowa is the fourth team to ever win when down 11+ with less than one minute remaining. Texas A&M (down 12 with 33 seconds left vs. UNI in 2016), UNLV (down 11 with 59 seconds left vs. SDSU in 2005), Nevada (down 11 with 59 seconds left vs. New Mexico in 2017).
Other Iowa comebacks to win this season: down 21 points with 13:32 remaining in the first half to Indiana on Jan. 5 and down seven points with 1:50 left in the second half to Michigan on Jan. 12.
Iowa extended its home win streak to seven and won its 14th home contest of the season. The Hawkeyes have won 14+ home games each of the last five years.
The Hawkeyes have now won 10 or more Big Ten regular season games eight of the last nine years.
Iowa has won its last three home games against Michigan State, its longest win streak against the Spartans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 1991-93.
Today’s contest (218 points) was the highest scoring game in series history, dating back to 1937, besting a 200 combined point game in East Lansing on Feb. 26, 1972 (102-98 Iowa win).
Iowa made five of its last six 3-point attempts, including four straight, over the last 39 seconds to force overtime.
Iowa improved to 2-1 in overtime this season.
Iowa’s 112 points are the most by the Hawkeyes in the 136-game series history with Michigan State and equal a season high (112 versus North Carolina A&T on Nov. 11, 2023).
Kris Murray scored a team-best 26 points, reaching 20+ points a team-best 13 times this season. Murray also had eight rebounds and three steals.
Payton Sandfort tallied 22 points, draining a personal-best six 3-pointers made (6-of-10), including the game-tying triple with three seconds remaining to force overtime.
Filip Rebraca netted 18 points, marking the 11th time in the last 19 games that he scored 15+ points. He reached double figures in scoring 9:34 into the game, making his first five field goal attempts. Rebraca was credited with five assists, his highest total against a Big Ten opponent the last two seasons.
Tony Perkins made a career-high four 3-pointers. He finished the contest with 24 points, a season-high nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Iowa made a season-high 17 3-pointers made. The 17 triples are the most the Spartans have allowed this season. Today marked the fourth time in the five home games the Hawkeyes made 10+ triples.
The Hawkeyes improved to 11-1 when making nine or more 3-pointers this season.
Iowa scored 59 second-half points, its second highest second half total of the season (60 vs. North Carolina A&T).
Today’s game featured 13 lead changes, the same number of lead changes in the Iowa-Michigan State in East Lansing on Jan. 26, 2023.
Next up for Iowa is #17 Indiana on the road Tuesday night. The game will be on ESPN2, tip-off at 6pm.
