Hawkeyes rebound with win over Minnesota
After getting out-rebounded 43-23 on Thursday night, the Iowa basketball team knew they would have to improve their effort on the glass if they were going to get back in the win column. That message was received and executed on Sunday as the Hawkeyes dominated the glass on their way to a hard fought 68-56 win over Minnesota.
Iowa beat up the Gophers 44-33 on the glass, including 17 offensive rebounds, and convert those into 15 second chance points. The Hawkeyes were led by Kris Murray, who started out slow from the field before heating up in the second half. He finished with a game high 28 points and also had 14 rebounds, including 7 on the offensive glass.
With the win, Iowa moves to 16-9 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten Conference play.
The Hawkeyes came flying out of the gate on Super Bowl Sunday. They applied their press that was effective in the second half against Purdue and it paid off to the tune of an 11-2 start to the game once Filip Rebraca converted a dunk on a pass from Tony Perkins. Rebraca has tended to play well in the Twin Cities and he did that once again, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds.
With Iowa up 18-6, the Gophers pulled closer thanks to a 7-0 scoring run. A jumper by Jaden Henley had the Gophers down just 18-13 nearing the midway point of the first half. A free throw from Henley pulled Minnesota to within two, 24-22, but Murray quickly answered a three point play.
It looked like Iowa would go to the break with a six point lead, but the ball found Minnesota’s Jamison Battle for a three and it was 32-29 at halftime.
For much of the second half it felt like Iowa was uncomfortable in control of the game. A nicely designed play by Fran McCaffery resulted in a Murray bucket to open the second half. After Joshua Ola-Joseph knocked down a rare three from the corner, Iowa’s lead was down to two, 39-37.
Then it was Murray and eventually Rebraca who keyed a quick 7-0 run for the Hawkeyes to put Iowa back in control at 46-37.
From there, the Gophers did pull as close at four at 54-50, after a Henley free throw. Then Iowa went on a 10-2 run and after a huge three pointer by Connor McCaffery, Iowa was up by ten. Then Murray scored five more and the Hawkeyes were up 66-52 and cruising to the finish line.
Iowa will resume play on Thursday night when they host Ohio State. The Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes on January 21st, 93-77 in Columbus. The return game will tip at 8 pm (central) and air on ESPN2.
