LOS ANGELES – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to UCLA, 94-70, on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. The Hawkeyes move to 12-6 on the season and 3-4 in Big Ten conference play.
The Bruins started the game making nine consecutive field goals and built an early 21-9 lead. The Hawkeyes were unable to slow down the UCLA offensive attack in the first half, as the Bruins expanded on their lead. At the half, Iowa trailed, 57-24.
The Hawkeyes shot 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) from deep in the first 20 minutes. Sophomore Owen Freeman and graduate Drew Thelwell each had six points apiece at the end of the half.
Iowa outscored UCLA, 46-37, in the second half but the first half deficit was too big to overcome. The Hawkeyes finished the game shooting 21-of-47 (44.7 percent) from the field and 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Iowa shot 19-of-25 (76 percent) from the charity stripe.
Junior Josh Dix led Iowa offensively with 19 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range. Freeman added 11 points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, including 5-of-5 from the free throw line.