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Men's Basketball

Hawkeyes Rally to Beat Scarlet Knights

The University of Iowa men’s basketball team overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat Rutgers, 84-73, on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Hawkeyes improve to 14-10 on the season and 5-8 in Big Ten Conference play. The win marks the Hawkeyes’ first true road win and quadrant one win of the season.

Box Score (PDF)
by Brandt Dickey
Box Score
 

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat Rutgers, 84-73, on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Hawkeyes improve to 14-10 on the season and 5-8 in Big Ten Conference play. The win marks the Hawkeyes’ first true road win and quadrant one win of the season.

The Scarlet Knights opened the game on a 10-2 run,as the Hawkeyes turned the ball over three times in their first five possessions. Iowa battled back and grabbed its first lead of the game, 21-20, with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half. Senior Payton Sandfort scored 13 of Iowa’s first 21 points,starting the game 4-of-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

The Hawkeyes made seven straight field goals to add to their lead. Rutgers responded with a 12-2 run to lead the Hawkeyes, 34-27, with just under five minutes to play in the half. Over that stretch,the Hawkeyes made just one of seven field goals. 

Sophomore Brock Harding converted on a lay-up right before the half to cut the deficit to single digits as at the half, the Hawkeyes trailed Rutgers, 42-33. Payton Sandfort led Iowa offensively with 11 points,while junior Josh Dix added 10. Rutgers created 12 points off turnovers if the first half, while the Hawkeyes were able to create just three.

Harding drilled a three-pointer to bring Iowa within four, 50-46, with just under 14 minutes left. The three-pointer ended a drought of 14 straight missed three-pointers for the Hawkeyes. Dix tied the game for the Hawkeyes at 53-53, behind a 12-3 run, before he would hit a three-pointer the following possession to give Iowa its first lead since the nine-minute mark of the first half. 

With just under four minutes to play, the Hawkeyes were clinging on to a 71-67 lead. Payton Sandfort’s three-pointer with 1:38 remaining would give Iowa a 76-71advantage. The Hawkeyes came up with defensive stops and knocked down free throws to protect the lead and secure the win. Iowa outscored Rutgers, 44-28, in the paint.

The Hawkeyes outscored the Scarlet Knights, 51-31, in the second half, shooting 20-of-34 (58.8 percent) from the field and 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) from deep in the second 20 minutes. In the second half, Iowa knocked down 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe. 

Dix led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 16 second-half points. Payton Sandfort poured in 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Harding added 13 points to go along with seven assists. Sophomore Pryce Sandfort rounded out the Hawkeyes in double digits with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
"We played better in the second half. It’s really what it comes down to. We only turned it over twice, we made shots, we rebounded, we defended, we did that all better. In the first half, we had seven turnovers, turned it over a bunch early, everybody was open. We were locked in both on offense and defense in the second half. I’m really proud of that. Especially when you’re on the road against a really good team, you have to stay connected, and we did.”

“We were locked into [Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper]. We were up, we were over, we were in a stance. So, neither of them saw a lot of daylight. Because when they do, they are both really good finishers, as you know. If you can continually make them, make tough shots their percentages go down.”

GAME NOTES

  • The Hawkeyes picked up their first road victory of the season, winning 84-73 over Rutgers on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
    • The victory is Iowa’s first Quad 1 win of the season.
    • The Hawkeyes have won five straight and eight of the last nine meetings over the Scarlet Knights.
  • Iowa is now 14-3 all-time against Rutgers and 6-2 all-time in Piscataway.
  • The Hawkeyes overcame a nine-point halftime deficit, taking a 56-53 lead with 9:56 left.   
    • Iowa outscored Rutgers, 51-31, in the second half.
    • The Hawkeyes have rallied to win five games this season when trailing in the second half.
  • Iowa had four players finish in double figures: Josh Dix 26, Payton Sandfort 20, Brock Harding 13, Pryce Sandfort 10
  • Dix finished with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting with two 3-point field goals.  The 11 field goals are a career high. 
    • He has scored 20+ two of the last three games.
    • Dix netted 16 of his 26 points in the second half.
    • It is his fifth 20-point game of the season and ninth of his career. 
  • Payton Sandfort scored 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting with four 3-point field goals.
    • He has made 4+ 3-pointers nine times this season and in 27 career games.
    • It was his team-high 10th 20 point game of the season and second in three games.
  • Harding finished with 13 points and seven assists (against one turnover). 
    • He has had 5+ assists in 16 games.
  • The Hawkeyes shot 58.8 percent in the second half and 50.7 percent for the game.
  • Iowa shot 9-of-10 (90 percent) from the free-throw line. 
    • 90 percent from the free-throw line is a season high for the Hawkeyes.
  • Iowa won the rebounding battle, 34-30.  It is the first time the team has out-rebounded its opponent since Jan. 11. 
    • Rutgers' seven offensive rebounds is a season low for an Iowa opponent.
  • The Hawkeyes committed just nine turnovers, including just two in the second half.
  • Rutgers, who entered the game averaging 7.2 makes on 32.9 percent shooting, made eight 3-point field goals in the first half and shot 57.1 percent.
    • Iowa limited Rutgers to two 3-pointers (in 11 attempts) in the second half.
    • The Scarlet Knights made 10 3-pointers and shot 40 percent for the game.
  • Iowa limited future NBA lottery picks Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper to 24 points – 14 below their combined season average.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Sunday, traveling to College Park to face No. 25 Maryland at 4 p.m. (CT) at the XFINITY Center.