After a slow two-game start for the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-5, 2-4), they face the fifth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (16-1, 6-0) at Mackey Arena. Unfortunately, the Eagles, despite leading most of the first half, couldn’t hold on and couldn’t match Purdue’s second-half performance, which saw them score eight straight field goals in the game.
Although the Boilers had a great offense during this period, only turning a 1-point deficit into a 3-point lead, Iowa State worked hard on offense to create opportunities for themselves in the final period. Bennett Stirtz scored 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but couldn’t match the effort of Braden Smith, who efficiently scored 16 points (all in the second half) on 6/9 shooting and 4/4 from the foul line.
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The Eagles got off to a hot start, scoring 4 consecutive shots to take an 11-6 lead. Despite another two quick fouls from Bennett Stietz, the Hawks were able to get and hit open shots, including a wild 3-4 bounce they don’t usually get off McGee. The hot shooting continued, with 4 different Hawkeyes teaming up to hit 5 consecutive three-pointers to lead 19-16.
Purdue eventually took the lead, but Stites tied the game at 31 on a layup. Kael Combs looked more aggressive with his shooting, draining his second 3-pointer for a 34-31 lead at halftime.
The lead felt tenuous as the Boilers kept lurking. They took a one-point lead after back-to-back Trey Kaufman Lane singles, but Iowa played some great basketball: an offensive rebound led to a Stitz single, a layup, a Coombs three, and then back-to-back dunks from Kam Mayau, the second of which was a pick-six, where he caught a lazy pass and drove the ball unhindered to the basket.
48-39! Cook with gas!
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Matt Painter called a timeout, and then Smith scored on a mid-range jumper. After Purdue made two more field goals, Alvaro Folgueiras scored on a layup and Ben McCollum called TO with 11:58 left. Iowa State was able to run defense/offense with its backups, force turnovers, and then take another breather on the bench to prepare for the stretch. Four people played more than 30 minutes tonight. Welcome back, Cam Manyawu!
However, the Eagles failed to take advantage and committed a turnover directly after the timeout. On Iowa’s next possession, there was another turnover, but the first of two legally dangerous plays by Smith was not called when he drove right into Stietz’s legs to grab a loose ball. Three minutes later, Stietz hit a 3-pointer and Smith found his way into the landing zone. Indicates calls that were not made tonight.
Iowa State continues to fight because this is a stretch Purdue can’t miss. Tate Sage hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 64. (Maybe we want to count our days with him because he had a block/rebound/save on Smith in the first half that was so Murray-esque.) But free throws with 3:18 left extended Purdue’s lead to 69-64, and Iowa couldn’t get within two points the rest of the way. It happened on Tavion Banks’ desperation 3-pointer (his third of the game) as time expired.
Purdue answered with 3 of their own, and that was it, in large part because they couldn’t string stops together.
It was the end of another tough game for a team still hoping to get that big win.
Next: Saturday, January 17, Indiana (1:00p CST, Fox)
