CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Two out of three would have looked really good for the Iowa men’s basketball team eight days ago, but it was bittersweet Saturday.
After leading 64-57 with 12:16 remaining and being tied at 75 with 5:55, the rest was all No. 12 Illinois at State Farm Center. The Illini defeated Iowa 95-85, a backstep for the Hawkeyes in the standings after wins over ranked Wisconsin at home and at Michigan State in the two preceding games.
So, the Hawkeyes are 8-9 in the Big Ten, 16-12 overall, and need to reboot in their final three regular-season games to present themselves as viable to the NCAA tournament selection committee. Illinois is well on its way to that event with an 11-5 league mark and 20-6 total ledger.
Coleman Hawkins had a career-high 30 points for the Illini. Iowa was led by Josh Dix’s 20.
The game featured 14 lead-changes and 11 ties.
Iowa slipped to 8-9 in the Big Ten, 16-12 overall. Illinois is 11-5, 20-6.
Illinois led 44-43 at halftime despite Iowa shooting 62.1 percent.
The Hawkeyes’ next game is at home Tuesday at 8 p.m. against Penn State (8-9. 14-14). The Nittany Lions will be coming off home wins over Illinois and Indiana.
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