Hawkeyes Fall to Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament

CHICAGO — The University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to Ohio State, 73-69, in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at the United Center. Iowa head into Selection Sunday with a 19-13 record for the season.

The Hawkeyes narrowly won on the glass, 31-29, and converted 13-of-16 free throws in the second half, but it would prove not to be enough in a game that saw 18 lead changes.

Fifth-year Filip Rebraca had a game high 20 points and seven rebounds, including six-of-six shooting from the charity stripe and a pair of assists.

Junior Kris Murray posted 17 points, six rebounds and five assists against the Buckeyes. Junior Tony Perkins made things happen on both ends, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.

Iowa shot 46 percent (26-of-56) from the floor and 81 percent from the line (13-of-16). It was a different story from behind the arc, where the Hawkeyes converted on only 4-of-17 looks (24 percent).

The Hawkeyes lost the turnover battle, 11-8, and for the second time in as many games lost despite leading for the majority of the game (21 minutes).

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“I thought we played really hard. I thought we executed fairly well. We got good shot opportunities. Got to the free throw line in the second half. I think, in a game like this, 11 turnovers is too many. We had guys fumbling the ball and needed to come up with that one at the end…

We were trying to push it. They run sets. They are not going to go unless there is an opportunity. That’s just how they play. We shot 50 percent from two. We didn’t make many threes in the game. I felt we took good ones. I wasn’t saying, ‘hey, that was a bad shot.’ I want the guys to shoot threes. They just didn’t go…

We got some stops. We didn’t get enough, probably, consecutively. When that happens, you can blame everybody if you want to, but I have too much respect for [Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann] and the players that they have. I think you have to give them credit. They came back and kept scoring. They didn’t panic. I don’t think we panicked. It came right down to the end.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

• Today’s game featured 18 lead changes, the most in an Iowa game this season.
• Filip Rebraca tallied 20 points and a game-best seven rebounds; he reached 20+ points for the fifth time this year.
• Kris Murray registered 17 points, six rebounds and posted a season-high five assists.
• After today’s Hawkeye loss, the Iowa-Ohio State series is even, 84-84.
• Iowa falls to 4-5 in two-possessions games this season.
• The Hawkeyes fall to 2-3 against the Buckeyes in Big Ten Tournament games.

UP NEXT
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air Sunday at 5 p.m. (CT) on CBS.