Numbers don't add up for Iowa in loss at Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The numbers are astounding, inexplicable and embarrassing for the Iowa basketball program.

Iowa shot 79 percent from the floor in the second half, sinking 19 of 24 attempts in a road Big Ten game and still lost 103-89 Sunday night at No. 16 Indiana.

"You go on the road and shoot 80 in the second half and score 89, you should be in pretty good shape, shouldn't you?" Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery asked.

It was the first time Iowa had given up more than 100 points since 2004 and the game ended a four-game winning streak over the Hoosiers (17-5, 5-5 Big Ten). It was the first time since 1995 - also a win against Iowa - Indiana had scored more than 100 in a Big Ten game.

Iowa (11-11, 3-6 Big Ten) now has lost three straight and five of six.

There were problems galore for Iowa (11-11, 3-6 Big Ten), from a 15-rebound deficit to containing dribble-drive penetration from Indiana's guards. The latter led to a prolific effort for Indiana freshman phenom Cody Zeller, who scored career-best 26 points.

Zeller sank 11-of-12 shots, and seven of which were from dunks. He also had four assists and three steals in 28 minutes.

It was a combination effort defensively that led to Zeller's points, Iowa freshman guard Josh Oglesby said.

"It wasn't our post play, honestly," Oglesby said. "I think it was our guards keeping them out of penetration. Zeller never really posted up and made a move except for like two or three times. It was all dribble-penetration, dump downs and just dunks because our big dude has to help the dribble-penetration and leave Zeller wide open. That's how he got all of his points."

Still, McCaffery didn't absolve Iowa's interior players. Indiana scored 58 points in the post and eight more than it scored in a loss to Wisconsin last Thursday. In fact, the Hoosiers scored 54 points at halftime Sunday night.

Indiana had 20 offensive rebounds, compared to Iowa's 22 for the entire game. That led to McCaffery questioning his players' toughness during a second-half timeout.

"That came up. Absolutely," McCaffery said.

Iowa seniors Matt Gatens said defense - not toughness - was the issue.

"Toughness, you tackle some guy?" Gatens said. "We're not going to do that. It's a matter of standing your rules, keep your guy in front of you. When someone helps, you help him. Then when they put a shot up, we all crash and get a board. No one needs to go out and do something stupid. We gave up way too many layups, too many dunks."

Iowa did keep up with Indiana for most of the first half despite their defensive inefficiencies. Freshman Aaron White scored on back-to-back possessions, including on a dunk that cut Indiana's lead to 32-31 with 7:04 left in the half. Then Iowa's defense went into the tank.

Indiana scored on 11 of its 12 first-half possessions, including its final 10, to extend its lead to 54-37 at halftime.

Oglesby had a career-high 24 points, including six 3-pointers. But the effort left a sour impression with the Cedar Rapids native because of the loss.

"It really (does), especially shooting 80 percent in the second half," Oglesby said. "I've never heard of numbers like that, especially at the college level when you shoot 80 percent and you still lose the game."

IOWA (11-11)

McCabe 1-3 1-1 3, White 4-9 0-1 9, Marble 6-9 1-2 13, Gatens 9-13 1-1 20, Cartwright 2-2 4-6 8, Olaseni 0-1 2-4 2, Basabe 2-3 2-4 6, Oglesby 8-12 2-2 24, McCarty 0-0 0-0 0, Brommer 0-0 0-0 0, May 0-0 0-0 0, Stubbs 1-1 0-0 2, Stokes 0-0 0-0 0, Archie 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-54 13-21 89.

INDIANA (17-5)

Watford 4-10 7-8 15, Zeller 11-12 4-6 26, Hulls 3-4 0-0 6, Sheehey 2-5 4-4 10, Jones III 4-10 6-7 14, Barnett 1-2 0-0 2, Oladipo 5-8 2-2 12, Etherington 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Wayer 0-0 0-0 0, Abell 0-2 0-0 0, Howard 0-0 0-0 0, Pritchard 3-5 1-2 7, Roth 0-2 0-0 0, Elston 4-5 1-2 11. Totals 37-67 25-31 103.

Halftime_Indiana 54-37. 3-Point Goals_Iowa 8-15 (Oglesby 6-8, White 1-2, Gatens 1-4, Marble 0-1), Indiana 4-16 (Elston 2-2, Sheehey 2-2, Barnett 0-1, Hulls 0-1, Oladipo 0-1, Etherington 0-1, Roth 0-2, Watford 0-3, Jones III 0-3). Fouled Out_White. Rebounds_Iowa 22 (Basabe, Marble 3), Indiana 37 (Watford 7). Assists_Iowa 16 (Cartwright 8), Indiana 20 (Jones III 9). Total Fouls_Iowa 23, Indiana 17. A_17,243.

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