Hawkeyes Drop Tough One To Spartans

As expected, it was a wild one in Iowa City on Tuesday night.  The 15th ranked Hawkeyes hosted the 7th ranked Michigan State Spartans in the most anticipated home game in a long time.  When everything was said and done, Michigan State left Iowa City victorious, they defeated Iowa by a score of 71-69.

Iowa got off to a bit of a slow start, but then again Michigan State wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders either.  Iowa waited for about 7 minutes of clock to go by before they made their first run.  It was a 12-2 run that got the home crowd roaring and they were ready to go.  Iowa finished the half up by four and in a good position.

One of the big things about the first half was, Gary Harris, was relatively quiet as he totaled just two points for the Spartans.

About four minutes into the second half, Fran McCaffery received a technical foul.  Harris would go to the line and bury both free throws.  It’s a coincidence that Iowa lost by two points, right?  In no way, shape, or form did the technical cost Iowa this game, I just find it horribly ironic that Iowa would lose by two, especially with what took place in Madison.

With 9:54 left in the game, Zach McCabe would hit a three pointer.  That shot is important because it was the last field goal Iowa made until the 6 second mark in the overtime period.  That’s a total of 14:08 without a field goal.  It amazes me that Iowa was even in the game.

The two teams would play an evenly matched rest of regulation and the Hawkeyes had a chance to win the game with the ball in Marble’s hands.  Marble spun into the lane and tossed up a floater that rolled out.  Melsahn Basabe‘s put back attempt also missed.

Here we come, overtime.

Aaron White would make two free throws to start the OT period for Iowa and Keith Appling would answer with a three.  It seemed like every time Iowa would threaten to pull away, Appling would shut the door with a three pointer.  He made three on the night.

Marble would tie the game when he split two free throws with 2:09 left in the game.  Michigan State’s Matt Costello (11 points and 12 boards) would go to the line and split just like Marble did.  Denzel Valentine came up with a huge offensive rebound to give the Spartans another shot.

Appling would miss a runner, but that guy, Costello, was there for the put back.  Iowa would then turn the ball over and with 30 seconds left and Russell Byrd, a guy who had made just two three’s coming into the game tonight, buried a corner three to give Michigan State a 6 point lead.

Fans started to head for the exits, but somehow I had a feeling it wasn’t over.  Well, I was right.

Gesell would nailed two free throws to cut the lead to four and Travis Trice would split for MSU to push it to five.  Marble then dribbled down the court and got a foul and the basket.  His free throw would cut the lead to 2.

Iowa then fouled Appling who is usually money at the line.  Well, Appling missed both free throws.

Get out of here, Iowa actually had a chance to still win this thing?

Gesell would dribble down the court and throw up a ‘meh’ shot that would fall short and Michigan State would escape.

Another crushing loss for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

"“Believe me this is a very very good Iowa team, just like we’ve gone through they didn’t play their best. … They’ll be back raising havoc in March.” – Tom Izzo"

Both Izzo and Fran McCaffery have tremendous respect for what each other has done in their careers.  After the game, the big thing was “toughness” when McCaffery addressed the media.

"“I didn’t think we played tough enough, we weren’t tough at all.” – Fran McCaffery"

It was in every aspect of the game too.  One thing I will point out is Iowa forced MSU into 3 shot clock violations on the night, but Iowa was 2 for 10 on 50/50 balls for the game.

"“These [50/50 balls] are toughness statistics which were big in the game.” – Aaron White"

Iowa will have to patch these kinds of things up before they hit the rest of this tough stretch they’re in.  Actually, in the Big Ten, every game is tough.  It’s one long 18 game tough stretch.

Iowa was led by Marble, who had 21 points, while White chipped in 10.  MSU was led by Appling, who had 16, and then Costello’s first double double of his Sparty career that was mentioned earlier.

Iowa will now head to Illinois on Saturday to take on the Fighting Illini.  That game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. CT.