IOWA CITY – Iowa (11-8, 3-5 B1G) built a solid first-half lead in this BIG10 matchup with Maryland
(12-8, 4-5 B1G) but it all slipped away in the second half with porous defense and shoddy shooting.
This was Iowa’s first game decided by eight or fewer points this season.
Iowa shot 50 percent from the field in the first half to build a 10-point lead (24-14). The Hawkeyes led 34-28 at the break.
It is the first time this season Iowa lost when leading at the break (11-1).
The Hawkeyes’ defense allowed 28 points in the first half – the fewest against a Big Ten opponent this season.
Senior Tony Perkins scored a team-high 20 points, leading the team in scoring for a second straight game. He went 4-of-9 from the field and 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. It is Perkins’ second straight and fifth 20-point game this season.
Freshman Owen Freeman finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, making 6-of-11 field goals. He has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games and in 11 games this season. Freeman now has 31 blocks this season – the seventh-most by a freshman in program history.
It is the second time this season Iowa has had two players in double figures.
Freshman Ladji Dembele missed the game because of injury.
Up Next
Iowa hits the road for its next two games, beginning with a Saturday afternoon matchup at Michigan. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (CT).
