Iowa Upset Attempt Fails
February 3, 2013

The University of Iowa men’s basketball team is 22-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points. The streak looked like it would continue against Minnesota Sunday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, it did not.

Iowa reserve guard Anthony Clemmons sank a free throw to put the Hawkeyes ahead by 59 to 55 with just over two minutes to play before a sellout crowd of 14,625. The Gophers then went on a 7-0 run for a 62-59 victory.

Down 59-57, Minnesota’s Austin Hollins drilled a three-point basket to put the Gophers in the lead with 11 seconds left on the clock. Iowa point guard Mike Gesell turned the ball over with five seconds remaining. Andre Hollins was fouled and sank the subsequent two free throws for the Gophers’ final total of 62 points.

The game began with Minnesota racing to a 14-2 lead. Apparently satisfied with their effort, the Gophers lapsed into a fog of indifferent play. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery altered his lineup with substitutes and soon the lead was down to 15-12. From there until the final buzzer, it remained a close contest.

’Our early effort was not what it was supposed to be,“ McCaffery said after the game. ’I was pretty upset. I saw it was going to be hard to win this one.“ He called for more effort on the defensive side of the ball and got it. ’Defense will keep us in every game,“ he said. Four of the Hawkeyes’ Big Ten losses this year have come by margins of three points.

Minnesota’s halftime lead was only 29-28. The Gophers appeared tentative and were caught standing around on offense, whereas their opponents moved the ball and their bodies with purpose, often setting up easy baskets. The capacity crowd was no help to the home team, preferring to sit on their collective hands.

The second half began, and Minnesota appeared to be playing the game in slow motion. The lead was lost when Adam Woodbury scored on a layup at 17:37 on the clock. The Gophers continued to play into Iowa’s hands, unable to set even a simple pick-and-roll.

’We had one foot in the grave,“ said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith afterwards. Fortunately, his team was able to pull it out with that 7-0 run at the end. Finally, instead of playing into Iowa’s hands, the Gophers ’recovered composure“ and ’dug our way out and clawed our way back.“

Officials Jim Burr, Larry Scirotto, and Bill Ek called 21 fouls on the Hawkeyes, but the Gophers could only respond by making 14 of 21 free throw attempts.

Nine of 10 Iowa players scored with Gesell high-point man with 11, followed by Aaron White, who had 10.

In the end Iowa wanted the win more but did not get it.

’We couldn’t afford a loss at home,“ said coach Smith. The win, he said, was the result of ’a lot of guts, character, and courage.“