Hawk Talk Monthly — March | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch | Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore
By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska overcame a 16-point second-half deficit — and nine-point deficit with 50 seconds to play — to down the University of Iowa men’s basketball team, 93-91, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at Pinnacle Arena.
The Hawkeyes finish the regular season at 21-9, 10-10 in Big Ten play.
Iowa led 37-31 at the half — its first halftime lead in eight games — before scoring the first 10 points of the second half to build a 47-31 lead.
Iowa led 74-65 with 50 seconds remaining before the Huskers made a furious comeback.
The Huskers traded 3s for 2s on consecutive possessions, using 3-pointers from Glynn Watson, Jr., and Palmer to close to within 78-74 with 38 seconds left. Following an Iowa turnover, Amir Harris made two free throws to get Nebraska to within 78-76 with 29 seconds to play.
Iowa led 80-76 following two Joe Wieskamp free throws with 27 seconds left before Watson, Jr., connected on a contested 3 to pull Nebraska to within one. After Connor McCaffery made 1-of-2 free throws, Palmer drove for the game-tying layup with 12 seconds left and Bohannon’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.
There were three ties and five lead changes in overtime before Nebraska grabbed the lead with 10 seconds left on a Harris layup. Iowa had the ball with 10 seconds left and got a look for Bohannon, but his attempt was blocked by Nebraska’s Thorir Thorbjarnarson to end the game.
“The kid made a great play,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “He recognized it and came a good distance to close out. (Jordan) is in a tough situation because you want to shot fake, but you can’t because you’re not sure how much time is left because it was off a pass. Give credit to defender.”
Iowa finished the game shooting 43.5 percent with 10 3-point field goals, but the Hawkeyes made just 21-of-32 free throw attempts. Nebraska shot 51.5 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Garza led Iowa with 25 points, making 10-of-16 field goals and grabbing seven rebounds. Bohannon finished with 20 points after making 6-of-12 field goals, including four 3-pointers. Bohannon also had five assists.
Wieskamp added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Moss finished with 10 points and six boards.
Nebraska had three players reach the 20-point mark. Palmer led the team with 27 points, while Watson, Jr., and Isaiah Roby both scored 23.
QUOTING HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“You have to give them credit, those kids hit some tough shots. We came up on them and we were contesting. If you do it over again, maybe you run another guy at them. Joe came up one time and gave him a running start.
“You have a lead you don’t want to foul and give them a four-point play. They made a bunch in a row, you have to give them credit.”
WORTH NOTING
- Garza (25) and Bohannon (20) each scored over 20 points. It is the seventh time this season and 11th time in his career that Garza netted 20 points or more. Jordan Bohannon reached 20 points for the third time this season and 16th time in his career.
- Today was Iowa’s second overtime contest of the season (Indiana).
- Iowa and Nebraska have played overtime games two of the last three meetings at Pinnacle Bank Arena (2017).
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will open Big Ten Tournament play Thursday evening as the No. 6 seed. The Hawkeyes will play either No. 11 seed Illinois or No. 14 seed Northwestern at approximately 8:30 p.m. (CT) at the United Center in Chicago.
