Hoosiers Fall to Hawkeyes in Big Ten Matchup
The Indiana Hoosiers saw their five-game win streak come to a grinding halt on Saturday night, falling 85-60 to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. What began as a closely contested Big Ten clash turned into a second-half runaway, as the Hawkeyes found their rhythm and left Indiana struggling to keep pace.
Myles Rice led the Hoosiers with 12 points and five assists, continuing to showcase his leadership and court vision. Oumar Ballo added a strong performance with 10 points and 13 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double of the season. However, Indiana’s offensive firepower was no match for Iowa’s scorching second half, led by Payton Sandfort, who exploded for 21 of his 23 points after halftime.
The game began with both teams trading punches in a high-paced first half. Rice kept the Hoosiers within striking distance with 11 points in the opening frame, and Ballo’s presence on the boards helped Indiana battle back after an early deficit. At halftime, Iowa held a narrow 43-33 lead, fueled by sharp shooting from their guards and dominance in transition.
Indiana’s first-half shooting was solid at 52%, but Iowa took advantage of extra possessions, getting six more shots than the Hoosiers. Sophomore forward Owen Freeman was a force in the paint for Iowa, contributing 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in the first half alone. His presence allowed the Hawkeyes to maintain their edge on both ends of the floor.
The second half quickly spiraled out of control for Indiana, largely due to Sandfort’s offensive explosion. The Hawkeye guard drained four three-pointers and connected on several free throws during a key stretch early in the half. His barrage began with a three-pointer less than three minutes in and was capped off by back-to-back triples that extended Iowa’s lead to 65-40 with 13:15 remaining.
From there, Iowa’s offense continued to roll, while Indiana’s struggled to generate consistent looks. Turnovers and missed defensive assignments allowed the Hawkeyes to keep their lead above 20 points for the final 14 minutes of play. Sandfort’s last three-pointer with just under two minutes remaining pushed the lead to 30, sealing the dominant victory.
Despite the tough loss, Indiana had a few bright spots. Ballo’s double-double reinforced his importance in the paint, and the Hoosiers showed stretches of solid ball movement, recording 13 assists as a team. Trey Galloway and Luke Goode added energy off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to offset Iowa’s offensive barrage.
Defensively, Indiana struggled to contain Freeman and sophomore guard Brock Harding, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Iowa’s ball movement, with 21 assists on 30 made field goals, kept Indiana scrambling all night.
What’s Next for the Hoosiers
The Hoosiers, now 13-4 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, will need to regroup quickly. They return to Assembly Hall on Tuesday to host No. 13 Illinois, a crucial matchup that could help Indiana stay in the race for the top of the conference standings.
Head coach Mike Woodson will undoubtedly focus on tightening up the defense and addressing the offensive droughts that plagued his team in the second half against Iowa. For the Hoosiers, maintaining consistency will be key as they face a challenging stretch of conference play.
Meanwhile, Iowa (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) looks to build on their impressive performance as they prepare to face Southern California on the road Tuesday night. For Indiana, bouncing back at home will be crucial to maintaining momentum in what has been a strong season so far.