Hawkeyes Comeback Falls Short to USC

LOS ANGELES - The University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to USC, 99-89, on Tuesday night at Galen Center. The Hawkeyes move to 12-5 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten play.

The Trojans got off to a hot start offensively, building an early lead in the first half. The Hawkeyes trailed USC for the majority of the first 20 minutes as the Trojans were efficient from beyond the arc. USC used a 7-0 run to add to its lead prior to the half to take a 48-32 lead into the break.

At half, Iowa was shooting 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) from the field and 4-of-10 (40 percent) from deep. Sophomore Owen Freeman led the Hawkeyes offensively in the first 20 minutes, scoring 13 points on an efficient 6-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-1 from beyond the arc. After 20 minutes the Trojans shot 19-of-31 (61.3 percent) from the field and 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from deep. Iowa was outrebounded, 20-11, in the first half.

USC would maintain its lead for the first 10 minutes of the half, making nine straight field goals to grab its biggest lead of the game, 75-56, with just under 11 minutes remaining. The Hawkeyes refused to go away and kept chipping away at the deficit, before they would cut the USC lead to just five, 83-78, with just over five minutes remaining.

The Trojans weathered the storm and knocked down free throws late to protect their lead.

Iowa finished the game shooting 32-of-60 (53.3 percent) from the field and 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from 3-point range. After struggling from the charity stripe in the first half, Iowa would finish 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the free throw line.

Freeman led Iowa with 23 points, a career high, to go along with a team-high six rebounds. Senior Payton Sandfort scored 20 points, including 15 in the second half. Graduate Drew Thelwell added 16 points, while junior Josh Dix rounded out the Hawkeyes in double digits with 13 points.

The Trojans shot 37-of-57 (64.9 percent) from the field and 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) from deep. USC converted on 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the free throw line. The Trojans were led by Desmond Claude and Saint Thomas as the duo combined to score 49 points.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
"There’s a lot of reasons for USC’s shooting. We got off to a bad start; they got comfortable. They are a driving team, I thought our defense was not what it needed to be. They made a bunch of 3s tonight and it’s not typically their strong point, but they made them tonight. You can see they are a team that’s gaining confidence. Our rebounding was not good, and we didn’t get to the offensive glass at all. We did some good things in the second half with our break. We had some guys step up and make some shots to get back in the game.

“There are a lot of good teams in this league. It’s not going to be easy to win on the road, so you’ve got to protect home and stay in the fight. We made a nice comeback. We had a chance, but we didn’t get it done. On to the next.

“I thought [Drew’s] energy level was impressive. At both ends, he was really fighting defensively, pushing it hard driving the ball, impressive offensively. That’s what we need from him. I’m really proud of him.”

GAME NOTES

• USC never trailed, handing Iowa a 99-89 loss on Tuesday night at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
  • Iowa trailed by as many as 19 (75-56) with 10:51 to play before fighting back to within five (83-78; 85-80) with around five minutes to play.
• Four Hawkeyes finished the game in double figures: Owen Freeman 23, Payton Sandfort 20, Drew Thelwell 16, Josh Dix 13
• Iowa’s extended its streak of scoring 80 or more points to 11 straight games, the longest stretch since having 13-straight 80+ point games in the 1988-89 season.
• Freeman finished with a career-high 23 points, making 11-of-14 field goals to go along with six rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
  • It was his third 20-point game of the season and the fifth of his career. 
• Payton Sandfort recorded his third straight 20-point game, finishing with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four 3-point field goals.
  • He scored 15 points in the second half, giving him 66 points in the second half of his last three contests.
  • Sandfort has a team-high seven 20-point games this season and 25 20-point games in his career.
  • He has seven games with 4+ 3-pointers this season and 25 such games in his career.
• The Hawkeyes shot 53.3 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent from 3-point range.
  • It was Iowa’s first loss this season when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
• Iowa made 11 3-pointers, finishing 11-of-24 from long range.
  • The Hawkeyes have made 10+ 3s in 10 games.
• The Trojans won the rebounding battle, 37-20 (+17).
• USC shot 64.9 percent (37-of-57), a season-best by an Iowa opponent this season.
  • The Trojans scored 50 points in the paint.
• The Trojans shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) from the field and made seven 3-point field goals in the first half. 
  • The Trojans made 10 3-pointers in the game; they entered the contest making 6.2 3s per game.

UP NEXT
Iowa will return to action Friday, facing UCLA at Pauley Pavilion at 8 p.m. (CT).  The game will be televised on FS1.