Indiana extended Iowa’s losing streak to three games, beating the Hawkeyes 93-86 Thursday night in Bloomington. Iowa committed 18 turnovers, a season high in league play, and failed to score a field goal for over an eight-minute stretch.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says his team failed to capitalize on 6-0 run to start the second half. “Early on in the second half, it came real easy for us. We jumped to a seven-point lead and then we just started quick shooting the ball, driving into packs of people, and turning the ball over,” McCaffery said. “We did a poor job of getting our transition defense put together.”
The Hawkeyes dropped to 19-9 on the season and 8-7 in the Big Ten. McCaffery said it wasn’t just a failure to take care of the ball that cost his team the game. “It was a lot of things. We made four three-pointers. You’ve got to make more than four…especially if you’re shooting 19. If you’re shooting 10, it’s one thing, but if you’re shooting 19, it’s another thing. And we missed eight free throws…eight free throw misses and 18 turnovers, it’s hard to win,” McCaffery said.
Indiana was led by Will Sheehey, who scored a career-high 30 points. Roy Devyn Marble had 20 points to lead Iowa, while Aaron White added 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Iowa will try to end its three-game skid on Sunday when the Hawkeyes host Purdue. Iowa closes the regular season with two games in three days; at Michigan State next Thursday and at home next Saturday against Illinois. “We’ll stay together, we’ll keep working, and we’ll be positive,” McCaffery said. “I believe in these guys. We have character in that locker room and we’ll come back in a big way, no question in my mind.”