Iowa can't keep up with Michigan State

INDIANAPOLIS - It was close ... for a while.

Iowa had game, was turnover-free and matched top-seeded Michigan State possession-for-possession in the teams' Big Ten quarterfinal Friday afternoon. It was 10 minutes of paradise for the Hawkeyes.

Then it became a nightmare for eighth-seeded Iowa. Michigan State buried Iowa by scoring on its next 11 offensive possessions, many of which were on second-chance baskets, in a 92-75 Spartan win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“I don't think that was the lack of us not being tough,” Iowa sophomore Devyn Marble said. “It was just - it felt like they were just quicker to the ball. They kind of out-jumped us and we weren't able to adjust. And when you got guys like Draymond (Green) and Adreian Payne who are excellent rebounders, it's difficult.”

With the score tied 22-22, Michigan State attacked Iowa's 2-3 zone with ruthless efficiency. Michigan State (25-7) pounded Iowa (17-16) for 28 points in the post and scored 10 points on second opportunities. The 11-possession first-half run turned into a 24-7 spurt for the Spartans.

There was nothing subtle nor fancy about Michigan State's execution, and the Spartans bludgeoned the Hawkeyes with tenacious defense and offensive power. The first-half run gave the Spartans a virtual insurmountable 55-39 halftime lead. Michigan State widened it midway through the second half, scoring on 11 of 13 possessions and led by 28 points with 7:59 left in the game.

“At half-court they were pounding it inside,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. “We from man to zone (defense) and back to man, back to zone. There's not much else you can do. We pressed a little bit, but we give up a lot of size to them.”

Iowa had trouble keeping up with Green, the Big Ten's player of the year. Green scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished five assists and had three blocks in only 24 minutes. Michigan State shot 70 percent from the floor in the first half and 58.2 percent for the game.

Payne also was a machine in the post for the Spartans, missing only one shot, scoring 16 points and pulling down seven rebounds in 20 minutes. The Spartans out-rebounded Iowa 36-24 and scored 44 points in the paint.

“They're a great team,” Iowa forward Zach McCabe said. “Payne and Green were tough players, and they're hard to guard. They've got a lot of skill. That was the thing we emphasized on, not let them get in the post. We tried to do our best and played as hard as we could sometimes it didn't ... it didn't end the way we wanted.”

McCabe helped ignite Iowa offensively early. While Michigan State's defense concentrated on Gatens, McCabe hit three early 3-pointers to help Iowa keep pace with the Spartans. But it wasn't nearly enough.

“We were right there in the beginning,” said Iowa senior Matt Gatens, who score 10 points. “I thought we got off to a great start. Zach (McCabe) hit like three jumpers in a row but we didn't stop playing.”

Freshman Josh Oglesby was the one bright spot for Iowa offensively. He led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and hit five 3-pointers. Iowa committed just nine turnovers but scored only three points on the fast break.

Iowa's postseason fate is uncertain. Athletic Director Gary Barta told reporters the school will not accept an invitation to a consolation basketball tournament unless it's the NIT. Tournament pairings are released late Sunday night.

“I think it would mean a lot to the team and the program,” Marble said. “Guys like Matt (Gatens) haven't had a chance to play in the postseason yet.

“Hopefully we do get chosen.”

IOWA (17-16)

Marble 5-10 2-3 13, Gatens 1-6 7-7 10, McCabe 4-9 2-2 13, Cartwright 0-5 0-0 0, White 2-6 3-8 7, Olaseni 2-2 0-0 4, Basabe 2-6 4-4 8, Oglesby 7-9 1-2 20, Brommer 0-0 0-0 0, May 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 19-26 75.

MICHIGAN ST. (25-7)

Payne 7-8 2-3 16, Appling 3-3 5-6 12, Thornton 1-2 0-0 3, Green 8-13 5-7 21, Wood 4-7 0-0 10, Byrd 2-5 3-3 8, Gauna 0-0 0-0 0, Kearney 1-4 0-0 2, Chapman 0-0 0-0 0, Wetzel 0-0 0-0 0, Trice 3-6 0-0 9, Nix 3-7 3-6 9, Sweeny 0-0 2-2 2, Wollenman 0-0 0-0 0, Ianni 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-55 20-27 92.

Halftime_Michigan St. 55-39. 3-Point Goals_Iowa 10-20 (Oglesby 5-7, McCabe 3-4, Marble 1-2, Gatens 1-4, White 0-3), Michigan St. 8-18 (Trice 3-4, Wood 2-4, Appling 1-1, Thornton 1-2, Byrd 1-3, Kearney 0-1, Green 0-3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Iowa 24 (McCabe 6), Michigan St. 36 (Green 10). Assists_Iowa 15 (Cartwright 6), Michigan St. 17 (Appling 6). Total Fouls_Iowa 21, Michigan St. 20. Technical_Iowa Bench. A_NA.