University of Minnesota Athletics
MBB: Gophers' Win Streak Ends At Iowa 66-60
1/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota was plagued by horrendous starts to both halves. The Gophers fell behind by 16 points in the first half only to rally to pull within six at halftime. The same went for the second half. Immediately after the half, Iowa rebuilt its lead back to 15 points. The Gophers went over seven minutes without a field goal to start the second half and were forced to play from behind.
Neither team shot the ball well from the floor. Minnesota shot just 33 percent on 17- of-51 shooting while Iowa fired at a 35 percent clip on 19-of-55. Iowa forced 20 Gopher turnovers.
Shaking off the effects of a concussion suffered in Minnesota win over Purdue on Wednesday, Jeff Hagen recorded his second career double-double with a team-high 15 points and a career-best 12 rebounds. He made 9-of-11 free throws and kept Minnesota alive in the second half.
The Gophers recovered from a dreadful start to the game. Iowa scored the first six points of the game before Jeff Hagen got the Gophers on the board with two free throws at 17:46. After Iowa made the game 10-2, Dan Coleman broke the Gophers' 0-8 start from the field with a three-pointer with just over 15 minutes on the clock. Minnesota then went five minutes without a basket as Iowa built a 16-5 advantage. The Hawkeye lead eventually ballooned to 16 at 29-13 with 4:01 to go in the half.
A Vincent Grier turnaround jumper with 3:39 on the clock started a 9-0 Minnesota run over the next two minutes. Aaron Robinson drilled a three from the corner and Spencer Tollackson made two staight hoops to get the Gophers within 29-22 with 1:36 left. Adam Haluska stemmed the tide for the Hawkeyes with a three-pointer to push Iowa's lead back to 10 but Tollackson dunked after a nice pass from Hagen and Rico Tucker made a driving layup just before the half and Minnesota trailed by just six at 32-26 at halftime.
The momentum did not carry over into the second half as Iowa went on an 11-2 run. The Gophers again struggled from the field, failing to make a field goal until 12:37 was on the clock and Dan Coleman grabbed the rebound off a Brent Lawson miss and scored. After an Iowa turnover, Robinson hit a three and the Gophers were back within eight at 45-37. Iowa returned the lead to 10 points at 50-40 on two Greg Brunner free throws but Minnesota kept scrapping. Coleman hit a three to pull the Gophers within seven again at 50-43 with eight minutes remaining. The deficit got to just six at 54-48 on a Hagen bucket with 5:20 on the clock but Minnesota could pull no closer. Minnesota fouled in the final minutes but Iowa was efficient from the line and kept the lead at six points or more down the stretch.
Tucker was the only other Gophers scoring in double figures with 10 points. Coleman added nine. Grier failed to score in double-digits for the first time in his Minnesota career, hitting just 1-of-6 field goals and scoring six points. He did make his presence felt on the defensive end, recording five steals.
Iowa was led Pierre Pierce with 18 points and eight rebounds. Brunner notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Adam Haluska scored 15 points.
Minnesota heads on the road again this Wednesday night when it faces Ohio State for a 7 p.m. game.
