COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Foul trouble plagued the 18th-ranked University of Iowa men’s basketball team in an 82-72 road loss at No. 15 Maryland on Thursday night at the Xfinity Center.
“We got lucky (Luka) Garza was in foul trouble,” said Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon. “They still got to 72.”
Junior Luka Garza picked up two fouls in the game’s first five minutes and logged just 10 first-half minutes. Senior Ryan Kriener picked up two fouls in a minute span and played just five first-half minutes but still the Hawkeyes trailed just 36-32 at the half.
The Hawkeyes closed the gap to one (38-37) 2 1/2 minutes into the second half on a Joe Toussaint to Kriener alley-oop, but the Terrapins followed with a 10-2 run to stretch its lead to 48-39 with 14:08 to play.
Iowa made a second push, climbing to within 50-47 and 52-49 with 9:45 left, but the Terrapins followed with 10 unanswered points keyed by 3-pointers from Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins to take a 62-49 lead.
Garza led a trio of Hawkeyes in double figures, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 25 minutes. Junior Joe Wieskamp scored 17 points and CJ Fredrick added 12 points. Junior Cordell Pemsl had a team-best eight rebounds in 15 minutes.
The Hawkeyes didn’t have an answer for guard Anthony Cowan, who finished with a career-high 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with six rebounds and six assists. He was 10-of-11 from the free throw stripe. Center Jalen Smith posted a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Maryland shot 45.6 percent, made seven 3s, and went 23-of-26 from the free throw line. The Terrapins limited Iowa to a 36.2 field goal percentage and out-rebounded the Hawkeyes, 42-38.
Quoting head coach Fran McCaffery
“When they got in the bonus when we fouled they made pretty much every one. We’re a different team with Luka, the more he’s out there the better we are. Others have to step up. Cordell stepped up, it was great to see him have an opportunity and do some good things.”
Of Note…
- Iowa and Maryland split the season series with each team winning on its home court.
- Tonight was Iowa’s first setback in six games, last losing Jan. 7.
- Despite playing only 25 minutes due to foul trouble, Big Ten leading scorer Luka Garza tallied a team-best 21 points. The 6-foot-11 center made two 3-pointers tonight, sinking multiple 3-pointers in four of Iowa’s last five contests.
- Tonight was the fourth time in six games that Iowa has faced a ranked opponent.
- Cordell Pemsl grabbed a team-best eight rebounds off the bench, leading the team in rebounds for the first time this year.
Up Next
Iowa returns to home court on Sunday against No. 19 Illinois (16-5, 8-2). Tipoff is set for 12:01 p.m. at Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game is sold out. Fans are encouraged to wear white clothing for the “white out.”
