Rutgers University
Iowa
Men's Hoops Held Off by the Hawkeyes
Jan 08 | Men's Basketball
Box Score
BTN Highlights
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Rutgers (11-6, 0-4) built a nine-point second half lead, but was unable to hold off Iowa (10-7, 2-2), in a 68-62 loss before 11,347 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. Deshawn Freeman posted his seventh double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, in the Scarlet Knights' fifth game away from the RAC over six contests.
"We're getting better," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "It's not easy and we've played three out of our first four (Big Ten) games on the road against really good teams. We've strung together some good halves. Today we probably played 34 minutes of really good basketball, but you have to play 40 good minutes."
Freeman was on 9-of-13 from the field and was joined in double-digits by Corey Sanders and Nigel Johnson, who both contributed 13 points.
Rutgers out-rebounded Iowa 44-36 and established a 40-26 advantage in points in the paint. RU suffered from a disparity at the charity stripe, however, making 2-of-4, while the Hawkeyes deposited 16-of-23 free throw attempts.
Peter Jok, the league's leading scorer, was held below his average, posting 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting, but scored six key points in the final three minutes. Seven of the afternoon's final 10 points belonged to the Hawkeyes.
"Coach McCaffery does a great job," said Pikiell. "Their defense affected us and we weren't getting the ball to where we needed to. They did turn it up a notch on their home court. They got to the free throw line and we didn't. They did a lot of things that help you win basketball games, we have to get better and do a few more things on our end to get us over the hill and get a win."
The Scarlet Knights came out of the gates hot with an early 8-0 run, keyed by Freeman and Sanders. The burst was followed by back-to-back threes from Johnson and Issa Thiam, as well as a slam dunk from Candido Sa, to jump in front of the Hawkeyes 16-10.
The home squad responded with a 20-8 run, striking from long range six times in the opening 16 minutes, to establish a 30-22 lead.
The Scarlet Knights closed the half strong, using an 8-0 run to conclude the stanza. Behind eight points apiece from Sanders and Freeman, the teams entered the halftime locker rooms tied at 32.
Rutgers maintained momentum after the break, starting on a 6-0 run, capped by a Ibrahima Diallo dunk, forcing McCaffery to call timeout.
A three-pointer from Sanders provided RU a 49-41 advantage with 14 minutes on the clock. The Scarlet Knights' defense held Iowa without a field goal for over eight minutes, until a jumper cut the RU lead to 51-46 with 8:24 remaining.
Iowa pushed in front for the first time since early in the second half, retaking the lead at 57-55 with 3:58 on the clock, courtesy of a 15-6 run.
RU countered, with a long jumper from Johnson and a dunk from Freeman keeping it to a one-possession game at 61-59. The Hawkeyes pulled away down the stretch, however, as the Scarlet Knights made one of their final six field goal attempts.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood at the RAC Thursday night, when it hosts Northwestern in a 9 p.m. tip-off. The contest will be televised on ESPNU
Postgame Notes
Deshawn Freeman had his seventh double-double in 16 games. It marks the most double-doubles in a season for a Rutgers player since Dane Miller had seven over 32 games in 2011-12.
Freeman has scored in double-figures nine times this season and has had double-digit rebounds on 10 occasions.
Freeman made the first career three-pointer on the team's final offensive possession.
Freeman had a career-high five steals.
Corey Sanders scored in double-figures for the 10th time this season and 32nd time in 44 career games.
Nigel Johnson scored in double-figures for the 13th time this season.
Iowa now leads the all-time series 4-0.
Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman, @C_Sanders3 is up to something. ??
This move in mid-air sure looks familiar. https://t.co/uRBpRG3vNZ- Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 8, 2017
