Bad rebounding, bad shooting, bad result for Hawkeyes, a 77-69 loss to Utah State

(This story was written in Cedar Rapids.)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa didn’t shoot well, and it rebounded poorly.

Such was the story of the Hawkeye men’s basketball team’s first loss in six games this season, a 77-69 triumph by Utah State (5-0) before a small crowd at T-Mobile Center.

A 9-0 run propelled the Aggies to a 58-53 advantage midway through the second half, and they didn’t relinquish the lead after that.

Iowa was a meager 5-of-26 from 3-point distance, and did itself no favors by making just 8 of 16 free throws. But this game was lost on the boards, where Utah State had a 47-31 dominance and had 15 offensive rebounds for 24 second-chance points.

A big moment in the game was when USU sophomore guard Mason Falslev swished a desperation 3-pointer to beat the 30-second clock with 6:58 to give his team a 63-57 lead. Falslev matched his career-high with 25 points, and had 12 rebounds after totaling just 11 over his team’s first four games.

Falslev nailed another 3-pointer with 3:00 left late in the shot clock for a 68-61 Aggies lead.

Iowa sophomore guard Brock Harding had 15 second-half points, and posted career-highs of 19 points and 4 steals to go with a team-high 5 assists.

“His aggressiveness, decision-making … really proud of him,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said on the Hawkeye Radio Network’s postgame show.

As a team, though, “Obviously we didn’t play well,” McCaffery said. “We were probably fortunate to have a 4-point lead at halftime.

“We didn’t play well enough to win. We have to learn from that.”

Iowa center Owen Freeman totaled 18 points and 11 rebounds. Hawkeye senior forward Payton Sandfort had 14 points, but was 4-of-18 from the field and 1-of-13 from 3-point distance.

Josh Dix, back after sitting out a game with a wrist injury, played 20 minutes for Iowa and scored 6 points. He missed all four of his 3-pointers.

“Josh was not himself,” McCaffery said. “He gutted it out.”

Utah State, 28-7 last season, had 21 fast-break points to Iowa’s 4. Sophomores Falslev and Karson Templin and freshman Jordy Barnes had significant roles for the Aggies down the stretch.

Iowa’s next game is at home Tuesday against the University of South Carolina Upstate, an 87-76 loser Friday to East Tennessee State.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com