BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Zabian Dowdell scored 18 points and Virginia Tech outscored Iowa 36-18 over a 17-minute stretch spanning the halves, then held on despite poor foul shooting to defeat the Hawkeyes 69-65 Wednesday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
The Hokies (4-2), returning home after losing two of three in a Florida tournament, made only 16 of 32 free throws in the second half as the Hawkeyes nearly erased a 16-point lead.
Iowa (2-4) lost its fourth straight. The Hawkeyes were led by Adam Haluska with 24 points and Tony Freeman with 11. Tyler Smith, averaging nearly 15 points, missed 11 of 13 shots and scored 7.
The Hokies led 30-21 at halftime after outscoring the Hawkeyes 20-8 over the final 10 1/2 minutes. Dowdell had all 8 of his first-half points in the run.
Virginia Tech built its lead to 46-31 with 13:39 left. The Hokies’ biggest lead was 58-42 with 6:29 left before Iowa mounted its comeback and Tech helped by missing free throws.
Haluska’s fourth 3-pointer with 2:07 left pulled Iowa to 60-53 and Tech missed three of its next six free throws. Smith and Freeman both made field goals to pull the Hawkeyes within 63-57.
Freeman and Smith both added 3-pointers in the closing minute.
Coleman Collins, who did not start for the first time this season, added 10 points and Jamon Gordon had 9 and five assists. Deron Washington added 9 points and 7 rebounds but was just 4-for-9 at the foul line.
Iowa did not help itself with sloppy play. The Hawkeyes committed 19 turnovers, which Tech turned into 25 points.
The Hokies’ eight turnovers led to just 6 points for Iowa.