ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Iowa men’s basketball squad suffered a defeat against No. 23 Michigan, losing 85-83 on Saturday afternoon at the Crisler Center. The Hawkeyes’ season tally now stands at 7-2, with a Big Ten record of 1-1. Sophomore Pryce Sandfort had a chance to clinch the victory with a three-pointer at the buzzer, […]
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Iowa men’s basketball squad suffered a defeat against No. 23 Michigan, losing 85-83 on Saturday afternoon at the Crisler Center. The Hawkeyes’ season tally now stands at 7-2, with a Big Ten record of 1-1. Sophomore Pryce Sandfort had a chance to clinch the victory with a three-pointer at the buzzer, but his attempt fell agonizingly short.
Michigan kicked off the game with a formidable 20-4 scoring surge, yet the Hawkeyes quickly regrouped, generating turnovers and converting them into points. Iowa embarked on a 12-2 run to narrow the Wolverines’ lead to 22-16 with just over eight minutes left in the first half. The Hawkeyes managed to equalize the score at 35-35 with under four minutes remaining in the half.
In the opening 20 minutes, Iowa’s defense forced 11 turnovers while committing only two of their own. The Hawkeyes capitalized on those turnovers for 13 points, while Michigan failed to score off them in the first half. Offensively, the Hawkeyes faced challenges, shooting 15-of-39 (38.5%) from the field and a mere 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three-point range.
Despite these shooting struggles and Michigan leading for all but eleven seconds during the first 20 minutes, Iowa trailed 40-37 at halftime. Graduate student Drew Thelwell and Pryce Sandfort were the top scorers for Iowa in the first half, each contributing 10 points. The Hawkeyes played without sophomore Owen Freeman for most of the first half due to his second foul just over two minutes into the game.
Sophomore Josh Dix secured the Hawkeyes’ first lead at 45-44, mere minutes into the second half. A three-pointer by senior Payton Sandfort shortly afterward gave the Hawkeyes their largest advantage at 51-48 with under 16 minutes left. The contest remained close until the Wolverines surged ahead with a 9-2 run, extending their lead to 70-61 with just over eight minutes to go.
With two and a half minutes remaining, the Wolverines led 81-73, but the Hawkeyes rallied with a 10-2 run to level the score at 83-83 with 20 seconds left. Payton Sandfort was instrumental in this run, hitting two critical three-pointers, including the tying shot after a steal by sophomore Brock Harding.
Michigan regained an 85-83 lead with three seconds remaining following a controversial goaltending call against Freeman. Pryce Sandfort’s three-point attempt at the buzzer missed as the Hawkeyes suffered their first Big Ten loss of the season.
After no lead changes in the first half, the second period featured four lead changes and two ties. The Hawkeyes concluded the game shooting 32-of-77 (41.6%) from the field and 9-of-27 (33.3%) from beyond the arc. Iowa faced difficulties at the free-throw line, converting only 10-of-17 (58.8%) attempts. Payton Sandfort led the Hawkeyes with 19 points — 16 of which came in the second half. Dix and Pryce Sandfort each contributed 16 points, while Freeman added 13.
The Wolverines were paced by Vladislav Goldin, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“We persevered. We secured 15 offensive rebounds, which had been an issue previously. Against significant defensive pressure, we turned it over just four times, and I’m really proud of the guys.”
“Offensively, we faced challenges, but our bench stepped in and provided crucial points, especially Drew [Thelwell] and Pryce [Sandfort], who were outstanding. Chris [Tadjo] and Riley [Mulvey] also contributed well.”
“We got a quality look [at the end]. A good shooter had a solid opportunity.”
GAME NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes overcame a 16-point first-half deficit and 11 points down with 6:30 left before falling, 85-83, in their first road contest of the season.
- Michigan’s Roddy Gayle’s field goal on an Iowa goaltend with 3.6 seconds left was pivotal.
- Iowa had another buzzer-beater chance for the second straight game, but Pryce Sandfort’s shot bounced off the rim.
- Iowa had five players scoring in double digits: Payton Sandfort 19, Josh Dix 16, Pryce Sandfort 16, Owen Freeman 13, Drew Thelwell 10.
- Payton Sandfort tallied 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
- He has scored in double figures in eight of the team’s nine games.
- Sandfort made four or more three-pointers for the third time this season (22 in his career).
- Dix scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting and led the team with seven rebounds. He’s been in double figures in three consecutive games and six times this season.
- Pryce Sandfort has reached double digits for the fourth time this season, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and three treys, marking his second highest scoring effort of the year.
- Iowa only committed four turnovers — a season best.
- The team recorded a shooting percentage of 41.6 percent (32-of-77) — a season low.
- Iowa sank nine three-pointers, making at least eight in all but one game this season.
- This marked the first time this season an opponent shot over 50 percent from the field. The Wolverines dominated with a 54-32 advantage in points scored in the paint.
- The Hawkeyes forced 17 turnovers (11 in the first half) but were out-rebounded 45-30.
- Michigan began the game on a 20-6 run over the initial eight minutes, limiting Iowa to just 3-of-16 shooting to start. The Hawkeyes managed to erase a 16-point deficit to tie the game at 35 and 37 before trailing 40-37 at halftime. Iowa shot 12-of-23 in the last 12 minutes.
- Freeman played only two minutes in the first half due to foul issues.
UP NEXT
Iowa will be back in action on Thursday, facing No. 5/6 Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series match at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be aired on FS1.
