Second half run downs Hawks, ISU wins 66-62

The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-2) played a nearly perfect half of basketball, getting out to an early lead against Iowa State (10-0) and stretching it to as much as 13 after a 10-0 run. But Iowa State used an early second half run, jumpstarted by a Joshua Jefferson 3 in the last minute of the first, to flip the script and keep the Hawks comeback attempt at arm’s distance.

There was a lot of good to take from the game – there was a lot less shell-shock at big time road environment as Tavion Banks & Cooper Koch hit back-to-back 3s early and assert themselves in a way they could not at Michigan State. The defense looked stout, as the Hawks contested every shot and ISU missed some shots they normally make.

It was an absolute brawl in the first half. Every rebound felt life or death early and almost nothing was getting called. Bodies flying in a rivalry game…it’s great until it isn’t. But for a program that has lacked that level of urgency for a little bit, it was incredible to see the Hawks play with that fight.

Cam Manyawu got the game going for Iowa early, with 8 points, including a dunk off an alley-oop from Isaia Howard. Howard played like a man on fire with 2 steals, a block, and 5 points in the frame. But the story of the first half was Iowa going 5/7 from deep with Bennett Stirtz hitting a couple and the lead building to what it did.

And then the run came.

Joshua Jefferson, who looked every bit of 6’9” 240 lbs, closed the half scoring 11 points in just over 5 minutes to cut the Hawkeye lead to 8 going into half. Then ISU ramped up the defense and were able to take advantage of the transition opportunities. The Hawks struggled to find the basket, missing their first 6 shots out of half, and added a pair of turnovers which led directly to runouts for the Clones.

The Hawks didn’t quit, though, with Tate Sage getting two quick baskets to tighten it back up. Banks hit a jumper and pair of free throws. Another Sage basket and Manyawu layup of deeeep missed three from Brendan Hausen cut it to 2.

Iowa State just has an answer for everything. Milan Momcilovic hit a three off an inbound play. Tamin Lipsey got downhill. But then Banks hit another three to keep it tight.

In the final minutes Iowa entered with a chance to win. Tate Sage got another dunk. Iowa got a stop after their final timeout and then Stirtz hit a 3 to cut the deficit to 1. Unfortunately, he got lost defensively on the other side to yield a layup with 1:20 remaining and then 1/2 from the line on the other end.

Iowa had some really bad luck where a rebound appeared to go off a Cyclone but was called ISU ball. No timeout meant no opportunity to reverse it. Jefferson drove, got to the line, and sank them both with 9 seconds remaining.

That was that.

This team is tough as nails and everyone showed up…except Stirtz. It felt like Iowa played long stretches offensively 4 on 4 and, to be fair, it gave them a chance down the stretch. Maybe that was the gameplan Ben McCollum was alluding to in the preamble to tonight’s game. But Stirtz struggled to get free when he did have the ball and made just 3/11 shots (all 3s) and had 4 assists to 3 turnovers. Credit to ISU for making it tough and Stirtz did look more aggressive in the final couple minutes of the game but it was a second frustrating outing against a top tier opponent for Iowa’s lead guard.

I’ll trust they’ll figure it out as ISU is a uniquely good opponent. Nothing I saw tonight changes that. Answers are everywhere. That’s what elite teams have yet Iowa was … just there.