STATE COLLEGE, PA – Iowa (13-10, 5-7 BIG) could not hold a second-half lead on the road against Penn State (12-11, 6-6 B1G), falling to the Nittany Lions 89-79.
The Hawkeyes erased an eight-point first half deficit, using an 12-1 run over a 2:06 stretch to build a 61-54 lead with 9:54 left. However, Penn State outscored Iowa, 35-18, over the final 9:54.
Graduate Ben Krikke scored 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting for his seventh 20-point game this season. It was Krikke’s first game in double figures since Jan. 20 against Purdue. Krikke has made 10+ field goals in four games this season. He has reached double figures in 17 games this season and 99 games in his career.
Senior Tony Perkins finished with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with eight assists. It is 14th consecutive game in double figures and his 22nd in 24 games. Perkins has had seven or more assists in five games and 5+ in eight contests.
Senior Patrick McCaffery reached double digits for the second straight game, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting. It was his 11th game in double figures this season.
Junior Payton Sandfort has made two or more 3-point field goals in 19 games this season.
Iowa shot 50 percent or better from the field for the second straight game and third time in four games. The Hawkeyes shot 55.9 percent for the game, but made just 4-of-15 3-point field goals. It is just Iowa’s second loss this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor (10-2).
The Hawkeyes won the rebounding battle, 28-26. Iowa is now 10-3 when out-rebounding its opposition.
Penn State forced Iowa into committing 18 turnovers, the second-most in a game this season.
Up Next
The Hawkeyes return to action Sunday, hosting Minnesota at 2 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.