The Iowa Hawkeyes pushed second ranked Ohio State to the limit but the Buckeyes escaped with a 73-68 victory in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes got a huge game from freshman Melsahn Basabe, who scored a career high 22 points and added 13 rebounds.

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says Basabe came back after being very sick before Christmas and he was pleased to see him return and says he will keep getting better. The Hawkeyes led by six at the halftime break but the Buckeyes used a 16-0 run in the second half to take the lead for good and eventually led by 13 before the Hawks raced back to get within three in the final minute.

McCaffrey says it’s disappointing and they will learn from it, but he says they are getting better.

Iowa played without sophomore guard Eric May who was sidelined with an injury. McCaffrey says May suffered the pulled groin in the Illinois game and kept playing, so now they are trying to get him back healthy.

Iowa falls to 0-2 in the Big Ten and 7-7 overall.