Go Iowa Awesome – Iowa 81, Maryland 67

That was a pleasant change of tempo — an Iowa victory that did not require a livid late rally or overcoming a giant early deficit. Iowa led the sport for nearly 37 minutes and stored Maryland at arm’s size for a lot of the recreation, in the end wrapping up a snug 81-67 victory to earn their fourth straight victory and enhance to 12-6 total and 4-3 in Massive Ten play.

Maryland’s solely lead within the recreation got here within the first minute, as a pair of Julian Reese baskets put them up 4-0. Iowa responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead — and by no means relinquished it. Each time Iowa put collectively a mini-run, Maryland responded by making a number of buckets of its personal to stop the hole from getting too massive. The Hawkeyes’ largest lead of the primary half got here with two minutes to play within the half, once they completed off a 15-3 result in go up 37-21.

Remarkably, that whole run got here with Kris Murray on the bench. Murray picked up his second foul of the sport on an offensive foul with 11:20 to go within the first half and Iowa main 12-10. He didn’t return for the remainder of the half (till the ultimate seconds), however Iowa nonetheless managed to out-score Maryland 31-23 with Murray driving the bench.

Filip Rebraca joined Murray in two-foul jail on the 7:26 mark of the primary half; he additionally didn’t return till the second half. The truth that Iowa was capable of not simply maintain tempo with Maryland however really construct its lead with its two most constant gamers (and prime scorers) on the bench is really spectacular. The Terps did shut the half with a 10-4 run of their very own to chop Iowa’s result in simply 10 factors on the break, however given the circumstances, that felt like an excellent place for Iowa to be in.

Sadly, the second half began nearly precisely the identical means that the primary half ended — with the Terps streaking. Maryland put collectively a fast 8-0 run within the opening 90 seconds behind a pair of made three-pointers and a Donta Scott hook shot; that lower Iowa’s result in simply two factors at 43-41.

That was as shut as Maryland would get the remainder of the best way, although — Tony Perkins made a pull-up to present Iowa a 45-41 lead after that Scott shot, and a sledgehammer dunk by Perkins with 14:36 left gave Iowa a 5-point lead, forcefully placing momentum again on Iowa’s facet.

That dunk was a part of an 8-0 Iowa run that lined nearly 4 minutes of recreation time. It was additionally emblematic of Iowa’s dominance in transition on this recreation; the Hawkeyes outscored Maryland 15-0 in quick break factors within the recreation.

The lead stayed at 8-10 factors in favor of Iowa after that, earlier than rising to a 12-14-point lead within the closing minutes. The important thing figures in Iowa controlling the second half? Tony Perkins and Kris Murray, in fact. Perkins was red-hot within the first half (15 factors on 7/9 taking pictures) and that carried over into the second half; he personally scored seven factors in a row after Maryland lower the result in two factors; that was a part of a run during which Iowa retook management of the sport for good.

In the meantime, Murray shook off that first-half foul bother and a quick taking pictures droop to hold the load for Iowa’s offense down the stretch. Murray had seven straight factors for Iowa (after Perkins’ personal 7-point run), which helped maintain Maryland at a distance. He put collectively one other 6-point run with 5 minutes to play to lock up the win. Up 12 with three minutes to play, the ultimate minutes had been all cruise management and Iowa rolled to a stress-free 81-67 victory.

The development of various gamers stepping up and producing every recreation continued right here, with Tony Perkins breaking out of his droop in a giant means on this recreation. Perkins had 17 factors whole in Iowa’s previous three video games, whereas taking pictures a depressing 6/28 (21%) from the ground. The dam broke for Perkins on this recreation, as he had a career-high 22 factors on 10/13 taking pictures (together with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal).

What modified for Perkins at the moment? Nicely, he had a renewed dedication to attacking the rim — he did not even try a three-pointer on this recreation (after going 1/8 from lengthy vary in Iowa’s final three video games) — and that paid off very nicely. Perkins was capable of get out in transition and end on a number of events, however even in half court docket units, he was capable of drive the rim and both get a simple bucket or draw a foul (he went 2/3 on the free throw line). Only a actually spectacular show from Perkins, and one which hopefully restored a few of his confidence after his latest droop. His efforts had been particularly important at the moment with Murray and Rebraca caught in foul bother within the first half; they performed solely 17 minutes whole in that half and had simply 4 factors whole on 2/6 taking pictures.

Kris Murray finally managed to do his half in filling up the field rating as nicely, with 19 factors on 8/15 taking pictures (together with 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, a steal, and an help). 17 of Murray’s 19 factors got here within the second half. Murray regarded out of sync early (he was 1/4 from the ground within the first half) and the primary half foul bother additional hampered his means to get right into a rhythm… however he is too good to be stored down for too lengthy, as he confirmed on this recreation. He was 7/11 from the ground within the second half, discovered his rhythm, and helped carry Iowa to a snug victory.

Iowa additionally acquired double-figures in scoring from Connor McCaffery and Payton Sandfort, who every completed with 12 factors. McCaffery performed all 40 minutes for Iowa on this recreation and was 4/5 from the sphere, together with 2/3 from lengthy vary. He additionally had 4 assists and three steals and was the calm, regular chief that Iowa wanted whereas taking part in practically each place on the court docket on this recreation.

Sandfort did not prime 20 as he has in some latest video games, however he was nonetheless a superb sparkplug off the bench — 9 of his 12 factors got here within the first half, as Iowa took management of the sport even with Murray and Rebraca on the bench. Sandfort has turned heads currently along with his scoring shows, however he does plenty of issues nicely — at the moment he had a team-high 7 rebounds, too.

Lastly, kudos to Josh Dix, who had 5 assists in 11 minutes within the first half to assist maintain Iowa’s offense buzzing alongside, and Ahron Ulis, who had 9 factors to go together with 4 rebounds, an help, a block, and a steal on this recreation. Like Perkins, Ulis had been in a droop of his personal of late — he had simply 20 factors whole in Iowa’s final six video games, on 7/34 (21%) taking pictures. He was 4/8 from the ground (1/2 from deep) on this recreation and had zero turnovers in 27 minutes of motion, which was additionally key.

Iowa finally ends up its present homestand with a go to from Northwestern on Wednesday, January 18 (8:00 PM CT, BTN). The Wildcats are 12-5 total and 3-3 within the Massive Ten, although they’ve misplaced their final two video games (towards Rutgers and Michigan).