Despite fighting to the final buzzer against No. 3 Michigan (28-2, 18-1 Big Ten), Iowa basketball (20-10, 10-9 Big Ten) came up just short of a major upset, dropping a 71-68 decision, in front of a raucous Senior Night crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Leading the way offensively for Iowa was senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who posted 21 points on 7-for-23 from the floor. Trailing Stirtz was Cameron Manyawu with 14 points on 7-fo-13 shooting.
However, it was the foul trouble late for the Hawkeyes that truly hurt the team the most, as Manyawu and Tavion Banks were forced to sit for extended periods of time in the second half. Manyawu would eventually foul out late in the game.
Although only a moral victory, Iowa’s hard-fought battle against a prolific offense like Michigan’s should earn them some credit from media members creating several NCAA Tournament bracket projections.
Final: Michigan 71, Iowa 68
52.2 2nd Half: Iowa 66, Michigan 66
Iowa Timeout.
Manyawu ties the game at 66 all. McCollum calls a timeout to set up a defensive gameplan.
3:53 2nd Half: Michigan 63, Iowa 60
Media Timeout.
Iowa only trails by three points at the under-4 media timeout, but Michigan will be at the line for two shots on the other side of the break.
IT IS CRUNCH TIME!
4:43 2nd Half: Michigan 63, Iowa 56
Iowa is starting to get outmuscled at the basket by Michigan. Hawkeyes need to respond with a sensational offensive run to have a chance at this point.
7:14 2nd Half: Michigan 56, Iowa 51
Media Timeout.
Iowa is the proverbial “Danger Zone” right now as its offense has started to sputter, and Michigan has drawn significant foul trouble on key players.
9:29 2nd Half: Michigan 51, Iowa 48
Foul trouble is becoming a major issue for Iowa, as Manyawu has joined Banks with four fouls each.
Michigan will be in the double bonus for the rest of the game now.
10:48 2nd Half: Iowa 48, Michigan 47
Media Timeout.
Iowa is holding a slim one-point lead entering the under-12 media timeout.
Tavion Banks picking up his fourth foul and subsequently being subbed out could prove to be costly if Iowa can’t sustain their offensive rhythm down the stretch.
13:23 2nd Half: Michigan 43, Iowa 43
Michigan Timeout.
Iowa finds the much-needed offensive jolt to tie the game at 43 and force a Michigan timeout.
Carver is LOUD!
15:25 2nd Half: Michigan 42, Iowa 37
Media Timeout.
Michigan is starting to distance itself relatively away from Iowa by this game’s standards, as the Hawkeyes have been chasing the Wolverines lately.
Manyawu just picked up his third foul, which will be a potential concern to keep an eye on.
Hawkeyes will need to start hitting their shots to counter the Wolverines’ offense.
17:11 2nd Half: Michigan 40, Iowa 35
Iowa Timeout.
Kael Combs hits a 3-pointer and is immediately followed by a Ben McCollum timeout, as Michigan has gotten a few early baskets on open looks to start the second half.
However, Stirtz now has 11 points and is beginning to heat up from the floor.
Halftime: Iowa 30, Michigan 30
Thanks to high-energy defense and timely buckets, the Hawkeyes enter halftime tied at 30 with No. 3 Michigan.
Iowa has played exceptionally well defensively against Michigan’s size and physicality, forcing 12 Wolverines turnovers (five steals and one block).
Offensively for the Hawkeyes, Bennett Stirtz and Cameron Manyawu are tied with eight points each as the game’s leading scorers with a combined 7-for-18 shooting.
While Iowa is happy to be tied with the third-ranked team in the nation at halftime, the Hawkeyes will need to continue their impressive play in the second half to potentially pull off the major upset.
22.8 1st Half: Iowa 30, Michigan 28
Michigan Timeout.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Stirtz have forced the Wolverines to call a timeout as the Hawkeyes have taken a late two-point lead with 22.8 seconds left in the first half.
2:52 1st Half: Michigan 26, Iowa 21
Media Timeout.
This game has turned into a rock fight, with both teams battling on the floor and fouls aplenty lately. Expect this style of play to continue until one team pulls away.
Stirtz is 1-for-9 from the floor and 0-5 from 3-point territory, which is a concern for Iowa right now for its top scoring option.
8:11 1st Half: Michigan 16, Iowa 15
Update: Foul has been switched to Morez Johnson Jr.
8:11 1st Half: Michigan 16, Iowa 15
Media Timeout.
Michigan has responded offensively to take a one-point lead as the officials review whether Wolverines’ point guard Elliott Cadeau has picked up his second foul of the game.
With L.J. Cason out, Cadeau is the primary point guard for the Wolverines.
11:59 1st Half: Iowa 13, Michigan 9
Iowa Timeout.
Iowa’s stout defense is taking away Michigan’s looks on offense, which has frustrated the Wolverines offense so far.
Michigan has eight turnovers so far.
CHA crowd is electric right now.
15:51 1st Half: Iowa 7, Michigan 5
Media Timeout.
Hawkeyes are playing stellar defense to start this game and matching the Wolverines’ physicality early.
Hawkeyes Starting Five
Iowa vs. Michigan Injury Report
Nothing new to note on the Hawkeyes injury report for tonight‘s matchup against No. 3 Michigan, as Peyton McCollum’s season-ending foot injury is still the lone name listed.
As for the Wolverines, tonight will be the first game played without sophomore depth guard L.J. Cason, who had been averaging 8.4 points per game on 50.3% shooting through 18:36 minutes per contest in 28 games played. Cason suffered a torn ACL in Michigan’s Feb. 27 win at Illinois.
Where to watch Iowa basketball vs. Michigan
Watch Iowa vs. Michigan
TV: NBCSN
Stream: Peacock
Tipoff Time: 7 p.m. CT
Iowa basketball schedule
All times CT
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball falls just short vs. No. 3 Michigan: Final Score, recap
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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