BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – Iowa erased a 17-point (39-22) first half deficit and a 12-point deficit in the second half (44-32) to tie the game at 49 with 10:37 to play but fell at Indiana Tuesday might, 74-68.
In this exciting game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Indiana (13-8, 5-5 B1G) was able to build big leads that Iowa (12-9, 4-6 B1G) ultimately could not overcome. There were seven ties and six lead changes in the game.
The Hawkeyes trailed 39-28 at the half despite enduring a nearly eight-minute scoring drought (1-of-14 FG) in the first half.
Indiana went on a 12-0 run midway through the half, turning a 19-15 lead to 31-15. Iowa trailed by as many as 17 (39-22).
It is the Hawkeyes’ second game decided by seven or fewer points this season (0-2).
Junior Payton Sandfort and senior Tony Perkins combined to score 48 of Iowa’s 68 points.
Sandfort recorded his second straight 20 point game, finishing with 26 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including five 3-pointers. He also had a team-high eight rebounds.
Sandfort scored 14 points with three 3-pointers in the first half (he scored 35 and made nine 3s over his last two halves (at Michigan, vs. Indiana).
It is Sandfort’s fifth 20-point game this season and the 12th of his career.
It is the second time in his career he has scored 20 or more in consecutive games.
He has made five or more 3-pointers in four games this season, at least four in eight games and three or more in 12 contests.
via hawkeyesports.com
Perkins had his fourth straight 20 point game, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting. He also had four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
The last Hawkeye to post four consecutive 20-point games was Keegan Murray in the 2021-22 season.
It was Perkins’ ninth game with three or more steals.
Sophomore Josh Dix scored 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting. It was his fourth game in double figures this season.
The Hawkeyes shot a season-low 35.4 from the field and were out-rebounded, 45-32.
Iowa finished the game with three turnovers – tied for the fewest turnovers in a game in the Fran McCaffery era.
Iowa returns home Friday, hosting Ohio State at 6 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
