It was no contest in Des Moines as Creighton blasted Iowa Hawkeyes 82-59. The Hawkeyes could not overcome a slow start in which they made only nine of 24 shots in the opening half and trailed by 16 points at the break.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says if he had to do it over again, he would probably have done it differently. McCaffrey says the Hawkeyes did not respond well to the slow start, as they got anxious and then couldn’t make a basket.
The game was played before more than 12,700 fans at Wells Fargo Arena. McCaffrey says he wishes they had given the fans more to cheer about, but he says they will have to get better individually and collectively.
Freshman Josh Ogelsby led the Hawks with 14 points, including 13 in the second half. He says it was a hard test to come back and they did not do what they needed to do.
Doug McDermott led Creighton with 25 points and nine rebounds. He scored 17 in the opening half. He says it was fun to get back to Iowa and to play in Des Moines.
Growing up around the programs at U.N.I. and Iowa State gave McDermott added incentive. McDermott says he never liked the Hawkeyes growing up, but knows and respects their players and hopes they have a good season.
Iowa is now 3-1.