Indiana's five-game overall win streak and three-game Big Ten win streak came to an end on Saturday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena when they faced off with familiar foe Iowa which ended in a 85-60 beat down.
The key players for Indiana were Myles Rice who had 12 points and five assists for the Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2), while Oumar Ballo had his fourth double-double of the season, 10 points and 13 rebounds for the night.
Payton Sandfort, Owen Freeman and Brock Harding were the stars of the night for Iowa and Fran McCaffrey's team showed what they can do all season if they can stay healthy which has been what they've battled all season.
Sandfort scored 23 points, 21 of those points came in the second half, Freeman helped big time with 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. He also blocked four shots. Harding had 10 points and 10 assists
The Hawkeyes offense was scorching against the Hoosiers. Iowa shot 54% from the field and 46% from deep. Meanwhile, Indiana had a paltry offensive performance, shooting just 41% from the field and 25% from deep via Hawk Central
The keys to the Hoosiers loss were Iowa's three point shooting, IU's 16 turnovers, Indiana’s miscues led to 24 Iowa points off turnovers and lastly the 15-5 run t start the second half. After the early run Mike Woodson's team look out coached, outmatched and simply defeated.
Iowa travels to play USC on Tuesday and our Indiana Hoosiers will host No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday at Assembly Hall which feels like an early must win game if IU wants to make a run at a NCAA tournament bid and a shot at a B1G title.
Final. pic.twitter.com/w5JdOPPmXs
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) January 12, 2025