Iowa Falls at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to Penn State, 71-69, on Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Hawkeyes move to 20-9 overall and 10-8 in Big Ten play.

Iowa built an early 13-7 advantage before Penn State used a 9-0 run to take the lead. The Hawkeyes responded with eight straight points and led 38-34 at halftime in a first half that featured four ties and eight lead changes. Iowa shot 14-of-31 (45.2 percent) from the field and 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes, forcing five turnovers and converting them into 13 points.

Redshirt freshman Cooper Koch scored 12 first half points, knocking down four 3-pointers, while senior Bennett Stirtz added 12 points and four assists.

The Hawkeyes stretched their lead to seven early in the second half, but the Nittany Lions answered as the teams’ traded ties and lead changes down the stretch. Trailing by two with eight seconds remaining, Stirtz tied the game at 69-69 on a layup. Penn State was fouled with 1.8 seconds left and converted both free throws to lead by two in the final seconds.

Koch finished with a career-high 18 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Stirtz added 16 points and five assists. Iowa shot 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) from the field, while Penn State shot 25-of-39 (64.1 percent) for the game.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BEN MCCOLLUM
“They individualized us a lot. They took individual matchups and tried to punish them. They punished us inside, gambled for a few steals, and they punished us on the perimeter in individual matchups. These teams are tough for us to play because they just kind of drive at you. Sometimes they hit a couple of shots and get some confidence going. When your offense isn’t concentrating on finishing and stuff like that, then that gets you.”

GAME NOTES

• Penn State downed Iowa, 71-69, on Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center. It was the Nittany Lions’ third win in Big Ten play.
• PSU shot 64.1 percent from the floor and 60 percent from 3-point range. PSU entered the game shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point land.
• The Nittany Lions made two free throws with 1.8 seconds left en route to the victory.
• Iowa had two players land in double figures: Cooper Koch (18), Bennett Stirtz (16)
• Koch’s 18 points were a career high. He finished 6-of-9 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from long range.
  • His five 3-pointers were a career best; he made four attempts in the first half.
  • It was his 10th game in double figures this season, but just his second in his last seven contests.
• The Hawkeyes made nine 3-point field goals – the most since Feb. 4 at Washington.
• Iowa had 17 assists on its 26 field goals. 
• The Hawkeyes led 38-34 at the break despite Penn State shooting 57.1 percent (12-of-21) and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
• It was Iowa’s fourth loss this season when leading at the break.

UP NEXT
Iowa returns to action Thursday, hosting No. 3 Michigan at 7 p.m. (CT) on Senior Night on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are available through the Iowa Athletics Ticket Office.