MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 7 seeded University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to No. 10 seeded Ohio State, 90-78, on Thursday night at the Target Center in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Junior Payton Sandfort led the way for the Hawkeyes scoring 19 points. It was the 12th time Sandfort has led Iowa in the scoring column this season. The Waukee, Iowa native grabbed six rebounds to go along with three assists. Sandfort shot 4-of-8 from deep.
Graduate Ben Krikke scored 13 points on an efficient 5-of-9 (55%) shooting from the field. Senior Tony Perkins dished out seven assists, a team high. Perkins added 13 points and four rebounds.
Freshman Owen Freeman rounded out the Hawkeyes in double digits with 10 points. Freeman grabbed a team high nine rebounds. Sophomore Josh Dix scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds, which was a career high.
Ohio State opened the game on a 10-2 run before the Hawkeyes responded with an 8-0 run of themselves to tie the game at 15 a piece. The Buckeyes continued their hot start from deep and led Iowa 29-22, at the under eight media timeout. Sandfort led the way for Iowa in the first half scoring nine points on 3-of-4 shooting including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Ohio State shot 8-of-11 (72.7%) from 3-point range in the first half as they led Iowa, 43-38, at the break.
The Hawkeyes continued to battle in the second half, but Ohio State had an answer for every Iowa run. Iowa struggled from the floor in the second half shooting 12-of-36 (33.3%) from the field and just 3-of-12 (25%) from deep. Sandfort led Iowa in the second half with 10 points.
Ohio State was led by Jamison Battle with 23 points, all of those coming in the second half. The Buckeyes finished the game shooting 31-of-60 (51.7%) from the field and 11-of-20 (55%) from three.