Tony Perkins, in a resurgent efficiency, scored a profession excessive 22 factors on 10-13 capturing, Kris Murray tallied 17 second half factors after solely scoring 2 in all the first half, and Payton Sandfort’s sizzling streak continued to the tune of 12 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench because the Iowa Hawkeyes cruised to an 81-67 win over the Maryland Terrapins.
Iowa’s 60% discipline objective capturing on 33-55 pictures was a season finest, because the Hawkeyes made their final 7 discipline objective makes an attempt to shut out the win. The Hawks have been drastically assisted by Connor McCaffery’s 12 factors and Ahron Ulis’ 9.
The win places Iowa at 11-6 on the yr and 3-3 in Huge Ten Convention play, with an NCAA match look seemingly like a lock at this level.
Basketball, as they are saying, is a recreation of runs, and this recreation delivered on the age previous adage. Each groups scored most of their factors within the first half on back-and-forth scoring runs, together with to begin the second half. Maryland minimize a 10-point IOwa lead down to 2 to start the second half, however an enormous response from Iowa received the lead again to double digits and ensured that the Hawkeyes by no means trailed once more.
The Terrapins began issues off a 4-0 run, however Iowa responded shortly with an 8-0 run of its personal, with a number of Hawkeyes contributing on the scoring entrance. The Hawkeyes to their credit score, made life tough for Maryland on the defensive finish of the courtroom, forcing 4 turnovers on steals within the first 8 minutes of the sport. However the Hawkeyes couldn’t take full benefit, sustaining a slim 10-6 lead.
Perkins was a key contributor in establishing Iowa’s early lead, scoring 9 of the group’s first 17. An incredible out of bounds play with Sandfort coming off screens from the highest of the important thing for a layup then put the Hawkeyes up 19-10 with 9:03 left within the first half, their largest lead of the early recreation, to pressure a Terrapin timeout.
The Terrapins responded by bringing Julian Reese again into the sport regardless of his two early fouls. He made an instantaneous affect, sparking a 6-0 Maryland run to chop the result in solely 3. However as was widespread for the sport, Iowa responded with a one other scoring run of their very own, once more due to Sandfort, and getting out to a double-digit 29-19 lead.
It was just like the Hawkeyes couldn’t miss, making 6 straight discipline objectives, and getting the lead all the way in which as much as 39-23 as a part of an enormous scoring run. Maryland appeared flummoxed defensively, not with the ability to shut out on Iowa shooters as they made seemingly each shot they needed, particularly from past the arc.
Regardless of Maryland reducing into the lead, Iowa nonetheless managed to enter the half up 43-33 as Maryland closed the half on a 10-3 run.
Maryland took the momentum from the top of the primary half proper into the second half, instantly reducing Iowa’s lead all the way down to 2, however the Hawkeyes, persevering with to be led by Perkins, didn’t let the Terrapins take again the lead. He was not solely the principle scorer for the Hawkeyes, however had large contributions on the defensive finish of the ground as effectively to make sure his opponent couldn’t take again the lead.
He capped it off with an enormous slam in transition to not solely break the sport being locked at 47-44, however tally 21 factors on the day, his profession excessive. Perkins then discovered Murray for a large open 3 as a part of a 6-0 run to present his squad a 55-44 cushion.
Murray, after a 2-point first half, additionally got here alive late within the second half, scoring 17 second half factors that have been essential in making certain Maryland by no means reducing into the lead. The groups traded baskets, however Maryland may by no means get sufficient stops on the Hawkeyes to actually minimize into the lead, with Iowa marinating a double-digit lead with 4 minutes to play.
Maryland, determined to attain and rating shortly, needed to accept low-quality pictures, and the Hawkeyes have been in a position to seal the deal.
