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Iowa Hawkeyes Sweep Michigan State For First Time Since 1992-93 Season

By Dylan Burn

Jan 14, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Anthony Clemmons (5) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Anthony Clemmons (5) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Iowa Hawkeyes hadn’t won inside the Breslin Center since 1993.  They looked to change that on Thursday night.

The last time Iowa swept Michigan State, I was about five months old (I’m now 23).  Wow, that’s a long time.

Iowa defeated the Michigan State Spartans back on December 29th in Iowa City when the Spartans were minus Denzel Valentine.  Well, Valentine was back in the starting lineup and there weren’t anymore “excuses” for the Spartans to use.  After a three point field goal from Valentine to open the game, Iowa went on a 33-14 run over the next 13 minutes and change to completely shock the Spartans.

Nobody had predicted this.  If they’d predicted anything it would’ve been the Spartans blowing out the Hawkeyes.  However, Iowa’s seniors showed tremendous poise and didn’t appear rattled at all in a hostile environment.

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The most interesting part about the first half was that Iowa did all of this without their starting point guard, Mike Gesell, who picked up two fouls within the first two and a half minutes of the game.

The load was now placed on Anthony Clemmons‘ shoulders, who appeared to be 100% after the nine day layoff the Hawkeyes had.  Clemmons, like a true senior, handled it perfectly.  He had 8 points and 2 assists in the first half before true freshman, Christian Williams, came on to give him a breather.  With the exception of one arrant pass, Williams did a great job filling in.

When the half concluded, Iowa had a 47-25 lead.  I think I speak for every Hawkeye fan when I say “wow, what did we just watch?”

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The two teams traded baskets out of the locker room with nothing major taking place.  Around the 8 minute mark, the lead started to shrink – not significantly though – as fans started to stress and it was for good reason.  Everything Iowa had been doing that got them the large lead in the first place had been abandoned.

It became 20 seconds of Mike Gesell dribbling out front and then a bad shot being tossed up.  That continued for about five minutes.  Luckily for the Hawkeyes, the Spartans weren’t making any of their three point opportunities.  The lead would get down to as little as 13 at 72-59, but a Gesell jumper with a minute and a half left in the game twisted the dagger that had already been implanted into the hearts of the Michigan State Spartans.

Iowa would walk off the floor with a 76-59 victory over the fourth ranked team in the country.

What a game and what a win for the Hawkeyes.

Peter Jok led all scorers with 23 points while Jarrod Uthoff recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Iowa will be back in action on Sunday when they come back to Carver Hawkeye Arena to welcome in the Michigan Wolverines.  Michigan just got done knocking off third ranked Maryland.

Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. CT in Iowa City.

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