IOWA CITY – After battling to a 36-all tie in the first half, Purdue (18-5, 10-2 B1G) used a 54-point second half to post a 90-81 victory over Iowa (13-9, 4-7 B1G) on Tuesday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Boilermakers shot 54.8 percent from the floor in the second half and made nine 3-pointers.
The Hawkeyes trailed by 12 points (58-46) with 15:13 remaining. Iowa closed the gap to 80-77 with 2:42 to play.
Iowa had three players finish in double figures: Josh Dix 27, Payton Sandfort 23, Brock Harding 11
It was the fifth time this season the Hawkeyes have had multiple 20-point scorers.
Dix netted 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting with three 3-point field goals. It was the second-highest scoring output of his career.
It was Dix’s fourth 20 point game this season and the eighth of his career.
Payton Sandfort finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists in the game, making 9-of-17 field goals with five 3-pointers – one off a season-high.
It was his team-leading ninth 20-point game of the season and the 27th of his career. It is the eighth time in Sandfort’s career he has made at least five 3s.
Iowa finished with 11 3-point field goals, making 11-of-30 attempts from long range.
The Hawkeyes have made 10+ 3-pointers in 12 games this season. It was just Iowa’s second loss this season when shooting at least 50 percent from the field (9-2).
Sophomore Seydou Traore and junior Riley Mulvey made their first starts as Hawkeyes. It was Mulvey’s first career start in his 41st career game.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Saturday, hosting No. 17 Wisconsin at noon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
