IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team dropped its conference opener in overtime on Sunday evening against Wisconsin, 78-75, on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes trailed for most of the first half but took their first lead of the game with under two minutes left in the period and went into halftime tied, 27-27. Fifth-year Connor McCaffery led the way at the break with eight points, including a pair of triples.
Iowa took its largest lead on the night in the second half on a, 10-0, scoring run sparked by a 3-pointer from redshirt junior Patrick McCaffery. After a layup from fifth-year Filip Rebraca and a putback from Connor McCaffery, the run was capped by another Patrick McCaffery trey to put the Hawkeyes up, 37-31, with 16:38 left in the period.
The Badgers would retake the lead with just over seven minutes remaining, however, and led by as much as eight points with 2:13 left in regulation.
Wisconsin would not score again in the second half, as a Patrick McCaffery 3-pointer closed out an, 8-0, run to tie the game at, 60-60, with 15 seconds remaining. The Hawkeyes would make one more defensive stand to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Iowa struck first to go up, 62-60, on a Patrick McCaffery jumper in the paint. The Hawkeyes led for the next four minute, but Badger Steven Crowl hit a hook shot as the shot clock expired to retake a one-point Wisconsin lead with 46 seconds left to play.
A Rebraca layup brought the margin back within one point with 10 seconds remaining, but Wisconsin held for the narrow victory.
Patrick McCaffery was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. McCaffery also pulled in seven rebounds, one block and one steal to go along with three 3-pointers on the contest.
Connor McCaffery recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. McCaffery also finished with five assists and three steals on the contest.
Junior Tony Perkins also totaled 17 points along with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Rebraca had another productive night, contributing 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Tonight was Iowa’s Big Ten opener.
- Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Patrick McCaffery (24), Connor McCaffery (17), Tony Perkins (17), and Filip Rebraca (10). Patrick McCaffery’s 24 points is a career high. He sank a game-tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining in overtime and scored eight points in overtime.
- Connor McCaffery posted his second double-double of the season, scoring a season-best 15 points and snagging a team-best 10 rebounds. The sixth-year senior was credited with team bests in assists (5) and steals (2).
- Kris Murray (19.4 ppg) and Ahron Ulis (6.4 ppg) did not play tonight due to injury.
- Iowa shot 82.4 percent from the foul line (14-of-17).
- Iowa closed regulation on an 8-0 run the last 54 seconds to force overtime.
- Tonight was Iowa’s first overtime contest since a double overtime contest at Penn State on Jan. 31, 2022.
- Tonight was Iowa’s first home loss of the season.
- Today was Iowa’s sixth straight game against a team from a Power 5 conference, dating back to Nov. 25.
UP NEXT
Iowa (7-3) will return to action on Saturday against Southeast Missouri State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
