SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Iowa fell behind early and fought back in the second half to within a handful of points but ultimately fell to Utah, 91-82, Sunday night in an NIT Second Round road game.
The Runnin’ Utes out-rebounded Iowa, 43-36, and scored 20 points off nine Hawkeye turnovers. Iowa lost despite having a higher field goal percentage in the game (48.5 to 46.2). Utah (21-14) made 12 3-point field goals (to Iowa’s seven) and went 19-of-25 from the free throw line. Iowa (19-15) was 9-of-14.
Utah made seven first-half 3-pointers to push its lead to as many as 18 points (45-27) with 2:52 to play.
The Hawkeyes trailed 48-36 at the break.
Iowa closed the deficit to five points twice in the second half – 59-54 and 61-56.
Iowa had five players reach double figures in the game.
It was the sixth game with five or more scoring 10+.
Senior Patrick McCaffery finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting – his third highest scoring output of the season. It was McCaffery’s 13th game this season in double figures and the 52nd game of his career.
Freshman Owen Freeman finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks. He was 5-of-12 from the field. Freeman has scored in double figures in 18 games. He has had seven or more rebounds 17 times and three or more blocks 12 times.
Sophomore Josh Dix netted 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Dix reached double digits in 11 games this season.
Graduate Ben Krikke scored 12 points, making 6-of-11 field goals. He also had six rebounds. It was Krikke’s 24th game in double figures this season. He scored in double digits in 106 of 156 career games.
Freshman Brock Harding scored a career-high 12 points, going 5-for-5 from the floor with two 3-point field goals.
The Hawkeyes fall to 11-9 all-time in the NIT. Iowa finishes the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 overall record.
