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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
CHICAGO — The tides turned on the University of Iowa men’s basketball team Friday night in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
A night after making an Iowa tournament record 12 3-point field goals, the Hawkeyes finished 1-for-16 from long range in a 74-53 loss to third-seeded Michigan inside the United Center.
The Wolverines countered by making 10 3-point field goals and shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Iowa finished with a 35.6 field goal percentage. Michigan out-rebounded Iowa, 40-37, and had 24 assists to seven turnovers.
Michigan got off to a hot start, making six of its first eight shots, including three 3-pointers to jump out to a 17-12 lead. Iowa pulled to within 18-17 on a Ryan Kriener layup midway through the half, but the 3s kept falling.
The Wolverines followed with a 16-6 run, capped by a Charles Matthews 3-pointer that put Michigan up 34-23 to force an Iowa timeout. Zavier Simpson’s 3-pointer with 42 seconds left gave Michigan seven first-half 3-pointers and a 40-27 lead.
Sophomore Luka Garza and junior Tyler Cook kept Iowa in the game in the first half, scoring 20 of Iowa’s 27 points, making 10-of-17 attempts. Everyone else was 4-of-14 for seven points.
Cook finished with 14 points, making 7-of-16 field goals and grabbing six rebounds. Garza scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Iowa’s other three starters were 3-of-14 from the field with 11 points.
Michigan kept its foot on the gas in the second half, extending its lead to 17 on an Eli Brooks 3-pointer at the 16:01 mark and to 24 points (59-35) following a 9-0 spurt. The Wolverines led by as many as 26 (72-46) with 4:25 to play.
The Hawkeyes didn’t make their first 3-pointer until walk-on Nicolas Hobbs connected with 1:08 left in the game.
Five Wolverines landed in double figures with Ignas Brazdeikis leading the way with 15 points. Jon Teske (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Zavier Simpson (10 points, 11 assists) both tallied double-doubles.
QUOTING HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“Typically we’re not going to be a team that goes 1-for-16 from 3-point range. It changes the momentum shifts in the game. We started going inside with success, then we missed some jumpers and they get a lead. Once they got a lead, they execute well, get up into your space, and make it hard for you. It seemed like no matter what we did, we couldn’t get a 3 to fall. At least we kept taking the ball to the basket and got into the bonus early in the second half, and it gave us a chance to get back in, but they kept scoring.”
WORTH NOTING
- Iowa’s one 3-point field goal is a season-low. The Hawkeyes’ previous low was four makes in games against Connecticut, Northwestern, and Ohio State.
- Michigan scored 13 points off 11 Iowa turnovers.
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes will learn their postseason destination Sunday during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show that starts at 5 p.m. (CT) on CBS.
