Anthony Clemmons swipes Iowa back into the game

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Iowa guard Anthony Clemmons threw his hands, clenched his lips and shook his head.

With 2.1 seconds left, Clemmons reached straight up and hit Temple guard Quenton DeCosey's arm during a 3-point attempt in a three-point game. DeCosey sank all three free throws to tie the score and send the NCAA tournament first-round game into overtime.

But when his team needed him, Clemmons came through in overtime. With the Hawkeyes trailing by two in overtime, the senior swiped DeCosey at the free-throw line and triggered a fast break that ended with a layup and a free throw by teammate Peter Jok. That gave Iowa a one-point lead in an eventual 72-70 victory Friday.

'I knew I had to make up for the foul that I did,' Clemmons said. 'That was the best way. I pretty much takes disrespect when somebody (isolates) you at the top of the key. I knew if I wasn't going to get a steal, I was going to get a contested shot. I'm glad I did my part, got a breakout and an and-one on that.'

'I was thrilled for him,' Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said of Clemmons. 'Nobody felt worse than he did on the last play of regulation. For him to make a huge steal, which really was a momentum shift in overtime, and then make a free throw and play defense ...'

Clemmons finished with six points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals and no turnovers in 36 minutes. The steal and dish to Jok was as pivotal as any play in the game. But afterward, he still thought about fouling DeCosey.

'I wanted to make it as tough as possible,' Clemmons said. 'He has a funky release. So I wasn't expecting ... I fouled the guy. I admitted it to coach, I did. But you've got to give that guy credit. He came up and knocked three straight free throws down in a clutch situation. Big ups to him, he's a great player. He's got a lot of respect from me.'

On the Clemmons' steal, Iowa center Adam Woodbury barked out the defense, which left Clemmons at the top without help. Clemmons defended DeCosey, who started right and switched the ball to his left hand. Clemmons poked with his right hand to knock the ball loose, then sprinted up the court with Jok at his left. Clemmons passed to Jok, who scored and was fouled.

'I take pride in defense and that's what I do,' Clemmons said. 'I knew I was at the top and I was getting (isolated), so I just wanted to make a play and make up for the foul I had before. I got the steal.'

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