Road Setback in Iowa City

Saturday, January 11

Iowa City, Iowa

8 p.m.

Indiana University

13-4,4-2Big Ten

Iowa

12-4,3-2Big Ten

Indiana

Iowa

1/11/2025 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Head Coach Mike Woodson didn't see this coming. No Indiana Hoosier did.

IU had thrived in recent weeks – shooting, rebounding and defending at the kind of high level that leads to championships.

Then came Saturday night's trip to Iowa and Carver Hawkeye Arena. The Hoosiers had no answer for the Hawkeyes' fast-paced offense and zone defense, dropping the contest 85-60.

"We've been playing some pretty good ball," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the postgame radio show. "That's why this is baffling to me.

"We didn't do anything right. We didn't shoot. We didn't execute. Early on, when we got back in it, we did some good things, and then we went stale. "

The loss ended IU's five-game winning streak. It dropped to 13-4 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten.

Iowa improved to 12-4 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten. It has beaten the Hoosiers in five of the last six meetings.

Sixth-year center Oumar Ballo led IU with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Myles Rice had 12 points and five assists. IU's struggles were personified by veteran guard Trey Galloway, who had no points, no assists and four turnovers in 20 minutes.

A fierce pace by both teams impacted defensive and offensive execution. In the first half, both teams shot well over 50% from the field while combining for 20 turnovers. Iowa converted IU's 12 turnovers into 17 points.

The Hoosiers' limited their second-half turnovers to four, but it wasn't nearly enough given Iowa had a 24-10 edge in points off turnovers.

IU shredded Iowa's zone for a 13-0 run to overcome an early 13-point deficit. The Hawkeyes responded with a 16-0 run to restore their double-digit lead and control by halftime.

"We didn't come out ready to play," Woodson told Fischer. "We were awful early. The bench got us back in it. Then I went back to some of the starters and we were just throwing the ball away. We gave up 17 points in turnovers in the first half. We hold them to 26 points in the half-court setting when they had to go through our defense, but we hand delivered them the ball for 17 points. You won't beat anybody on the road doing that."

Iowa entered the game leading the Big Ten and ranking second nationally in scoring at 89.9 points per game. IU allowed 70.2 points.

The Hawkeyes shot 54.2% from the field and made 11 3-point field goals. IU struggled against Iowa's second half zone and shot 40.7% and made just four 3-pointers.

"We didn't make shots," Woodson told Fischer, "and compounded it with turnovers and not rebounding. That's a bad combination. We haven't done that very often this season."

Five Hawkeyes scored in double figures.

Iowa went on an early 15-0 run to set the tone. The Hawkeyes scored nine points from six Hoosier turnovers. Ballo had three of those turnovers.

The Hawkeyes built a 13-point lead in seven minutes before IU rallied. A Rice 3-pointer made it a 21-13 score. Layups by Rice and Ballo, a Kanaan Carlyle 3-pointer and dunks by Bryson Tucker and Ballo highlighted a 13-0 run for a 26-23 IU lead with eight minutes left in the half.

Iowa's 16-0 run re-established control. A jumper by Rice and a Luke Goode 3-pointer made it a 43-33 halftime score. Rice led with 11 points. Iowa scored 17 points off the Hoosiers' 12 turnovers.

A 19-7 Iowa start to the second half boosted its lead to 62-40 after five minutes.

The Hoosiers never recovered.

IU will host No. 13/15 Illinois (12-4, 4-2) on Tuesday. The Illini are coming off a Saturday home loss to USC.

"We have to regroup and get better," Woodson told Fischer. "We can't turn the ball over like that. These games come quickly."