The Iowa Hawkeyes survived a shaky start and rolled to a 72-51 victory over Minnesota in Big Ten play. Iowa trailed 21-5 at the outset but turned things around to win their third straight Big Ten game for the first time in six years.
“You’re seeing individual players just improve right before your eyes, that took tremendous composure, tremendous fight. We changed the complexion of the game with our press, with our zone,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says. “I think what you’re seeing is a team that’s maturing right before your eyes, and I think as a fan, as a player, as a coach, it’s a tremendous feeling.”
He says the crowd helped urge the Hawks back into contention. During one stretch of the game Iowa outscored Minnesota 37-10.
Devyn Marble and Aaron White both had 15 points to lead the Hawks who are got a boost from the bench. Senior Eric May had 10 points and seven rebounds.
McCaffery says he has tinkered all year long with putting May in the lineup, but decided he is doing such a good job off the bench that he likes the production he gets that way.
Iowa is 6-7 in the Big Ten and 17-9 overall.