The Iowa Hawkeyes scored the first four points of the third overtime as they held off Minnesota 76-72 in a marathon that left both teams exhausted. Senior forward Greg Brunner had a Carver-Hawkeye arena record 23 rebounds to go along with 17 points. Brunner says everyone did a great job, including the coaches and assistants.
Erek Hansen had a big game as well with a career-high 20 points. Hansen says that’s the most points he’s scored in a game, and he credits his teammates for getting him the ball when he was open.
Several Hawkeyes played 50 or more minutes but Hansen says they weren’t thinking about how tired they were getting. He says he got more adrenaline each overtime and knew they would fight back after each overtime.
The Hawkeyes trailed late in regulation and were down by four late in the second overtime but each time rallied to extend the game. Iowa coach Steve Alford says he’s proud of the team and he says the fans are starting to fall in love with the team. Alford’s team survived a cold shooting night to move to 3-1 in the Big Ten and 14-4 overall. Alford says he’s pleased they found a way to win with their defense.