IOWA CITY – The Iowa Hawkeyes were ran off the court Tuesday night by the lowly Minnesota Gophers, trailing by as many as 17 points late in the game, in a 72-67 loss.
Minnesota (10-9, 2-6 B1G) held Iowa (12-7, 3-5 B1G) to a season-low 67 points in a 72-67 victory on Tuesday night inside a poorly-attended Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Mediacom Court.
The Gophers’ win snapped a six-game Iowa winning streak in the series. It was Minnesota’s first win in Iowa City since 2015.
Iowa trailed by 13 points (67-54) with 4:08 remaining before closing the gap to within three points (70-67) with 30 seconds to play.
Iowa had three players finish in double figures: Payton Sandfort 21, Owen Freeman 21, Seydou Traore 11
Payton Sandfort finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season (seventh of his career). He made 7-of-19 field goals in the game.
It was his team-leading eighth 20-point game of the season and the 26th game of his career.
Freeman made 10-of-14 field goals en route to his 21 points. He also had eight rebounds.
It was Freeman’s fourth 20-point game this season and sixth of his career.
Sophomore Brock Harding had nine points and nine assists.
Minnesota held Iowa to season-lows in points (67) and 3-point field goals (3).
The Hawkeyes did not make a 3-point field goal in the first half and the first make didn’t come until the 12:45 mark of the second half.
Iowa entered the game averaging 10.7 3-pointers per game.
Iowa lost despite having a higher field goal percentage (.459-.414). The Gophers made 17 free throws to Iowa’s eight in the game.
UP NEXT
Iowa returns to action Friday, hosting Penn State at 8 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
