NICEVILLE, Fla. – The No. 25 University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to TCU on Saturday, 79-66, in the Emerald Coast Classic title game. Iowa moves to 5-1 on the season.
Juniors Tony Perkins and Ahron Ulis led the Hawkeyes with 15 points on the night. Ulis’ scoring total came on 7-of-8 (.875) shooting from the floor and marked a season-high. Perkins posted two blocks and three steals against the Horned Frogs.
Junior Kris Murray recorded his second consecutive double-double and his third of the season, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Dasonte Bowen posted eight points on 3-of-5 (.600) shooting, while fifth-year Filip Rebraca was good for nine points, five rebounds and two assists for the game.
The Hawkeyes shot 43 percent (26-of-61) from the floor and 73 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw stripe but were 3-of-17 (.176) from behind the arc.
Iowa scored 18 fastbreak points, combining for eight steals and four blocks on the night. TCU won the rebounding battle, 41-28.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“Both [Emerald Coast Classic] games were really physical, which is not unlike what we see in the Big Ten. I got some veteran guys back, but it is a new team and I think it’s important to be able to play against teams that play with that level of physicality and figure it out. We were good last night. Tonight, we weren’t as good, but we will learn from it…
We didn’t shoot it well from three. Normally we are a much better shooting team than that. I think that played into when they started to get some separation. We got it to the front of the rim a couple times, but it didn’t fall for us. Defensively, we gave up too many offensive rebounds. They were cutting really well; we were staring at the ball. They got some layups. We wanted to keep them in front of us, so we have got to learn from that.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Kris Murray and Patrick McCaffery were named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team.
- Murray posted his third double-double of the season and second in as many games (11 points, 10 rebounds). Murray has led the squad in rebounding three times this season.
- Tony Perkins tallied a team-best 15 points. He also equaled a season high with three steals, all credited in the first half, and blocked a personal-best two shots.
- Tonight was Iowa’s first loss of the season after winning its first five.
- Ahron Ulis netted a season-best 15 points, reaching his season high in the first half.
- TCU held the Hawkeyes to a season-low three 3-pointers made.
UP NEXT
Iowa (5-1) returns home on Tuesday hosting Georgia Tech (4-2) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
