Basabe's Career-High Not Enough

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Jan. 30, 2011

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By RICHIE ZAWISTOWSKI

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A career-high 25 points by University of Iowa freshman Melsahn Basabe was not enough to offset a barrage of 3-pointers by Michigan and a triple-double from Wolverine point guard Darius Morris, as Iowa fell 87-73 on Sunday afternoon at Crisler Arena.

The first half was a back-and-forth battle for both teams, as the two teams combined for four ties and 13 lead changes. The Wolverines, however, pulled away in the second half, shooting a blistering 73-percent (19-26) over the second 20 minutes, and 14-of-28 from 3-point land for the game.

“I thought we came out with a good focus offensively,” said UI head coach Fran McCaffery. “We came apart a little bit on penetration. The penetration was causing the 3-point shots. They weren’t closing out effectively.”

“Part of the problem is they have a tremendous point guard who penetrates the ball and creates help recovery. You’ve got to give them some credit. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do, but Morris was creative and their shooters were moving and they made them. What we have to do is stay closer and close out better.”

Basabe led all scorers with 25 points, and led Iowa with eight rebounds. Bryce Cartwright was one assist shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine assists, and Roy Devyn Marble scored 12 off the bench.

The Hawkeyes got off to a quick start, building an 8-2 lead over the first two-and-a-half minutes of the contest. Cartwright registered assists on each of the team’s first four field goals. Basabe then got going, scoring nine of Iowa’s next 12 points, including a pair of free throws that tied the game at 22 with 7:26 remaining in the half.

The two teams traded buckets for the remainder of the half, as there were seven lead changes before Michigan scored the final five points of the half to take a 35-32 advantage into the break.

The Wolverines opened the second half on fire from downtown, as they hit their first three attempts to build a 48-37 lead four minutes in. The deficit continued to grow for the Hawkeyes before Gatens snapped a 7-0 Michigan run with a 3-pointer, making the score 55-42 with 13:11 to play.

The damage continued, however, as Michigan stretched the margin to as many as 21 (69-48) with 9:07 remaining. Iowa continued battling, as it rattled off seven straight points to make the score 69-55. After a Zack Novak long ball made the score 72-55, the Hawkeyes used a 14-4 run to get to within eight points (77-69) with 3:19 left.

The Wolverines regrouped by scoring the next seven points before running out 87-73 winners.

The Hawkeyes (8-13, 1-8) return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for three-of-four games, beginning with Michigan State on Wednesday night at 7:35 p.m.