Gophers slice up Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY — Iowa fans poured out of Carver-Hawkeye Arena with the home team trailing by seemingly insurmountable margin. But for all the turnovers and quick shots that defined their first 39 minutes of action, the Hawkeyes still had one final opportunity to salvage a game that seemed unwinnable.

Iowa chopped Minnesota's 10-point lead to three points with 19.8 seconds left. The Hawkeyes had the ball and the momentum. Eight seconds into the possession, Iowa point guard Mike Gesell drove toward 6-foot-10 center Maurice Walker, who awaited at the basket. Walker stripped Gesell, grabbed the ball and was fouled. Walker sank two free throws and the Gophers held on 64-59 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena last night.

Gesell had options, Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. Gesell could have worked it around the perimeter for a 3-point attempt. Instead he saw an opening and tried to capitalize.

'I felt like there was enough time to get a quick two and foul again and hopefully they miss a free throw,' Gesell said. 'I attacked the basket and got stripped.

'We drove a play where we had plenty of options. They kind of messed up on the ball screen, and I felt like I had a lane to the basket. I just wasn't able to finish.'

'He got it essentially to the front of the rim,' McCaffery said. 'The kid, Walker, made a nice play. He poked it from him.'

Walker had four fouls and with time dwindling in a road game, that situation usually nets a basket, a foul or both. Walker, a fifth-year senior, instead attacked Gesell and sealed the win.

'A younger guy may be scared to make that play on the ball,' Minnesota Coach Richard Pitino said. 'To do that and to hit those free throws was big. Nobody in that locker room has beaten Iowa at Iowa. So they need to enjoy it because that's a very good team.'

An Iowa (15-9, 6-5 Big Ten) comeback would have masked a rough offensive performance. Minnesota's pressure defense forced 16 Iowa turnovers that turned into 19 points. The Gophers (16-9, 5-7 Big Ten), conversely, committed just six turnovers that led to four Iowa points.

'They did a great job of pressuring us, especially in the half court,' Gesell said. 'We kind of got stagnant, weren't moving well enough, and they did a great job of being in the gaps. Their rotations were very good (Thursday), and you've got to give them credit.'

Iowa seemingly was in control midway through the first half and led 15-11. Then the Hawkeyes' offense turned into a quagmire, going 12 consecutive possessions without scoring. Iowa missed six shots and had six turnovers during a drought that lasted nine minutes and enabled Minnesota to take a 23-15 advantage.

The Hawkeyes rallied in the second half and took the lead three different times. Iowa's last lead was 35-34 with 10:48 left in the game. But Minnesota matched Iowa score-for-score and used a 12-2 run that lead by 11 points with 2:46 left.

Iowa then mounted a furious rally and cut its deficit to 61-59 with 20.4 seconds left when Jarrod Uthoff knocked down three free throws. Then Minnesota guard Nate Mason was fouled on the inbound pass and hit one free throw to give Iowa its last opportunity.

Offensively, Iowa lacked the crisped execution that enabled the Hawkeyes to beat Michigan and Maryland by a combined 34 points. In the first half, Iowa shot 34.8 percent and had more turnovers (10) than baskets (eight).

In the nine-minute scoring drought, Iowa twice took shots early in the possession. The Hawkeyes then became tentative, which led to multiple turnovers.

'We did take a couple of quick shots, and I think it got us a bit sideways because we missed them, myself included,' said Iowa junior Jarrod Uthoff, who scored a team-high 17 points. 'I didn't want to take another quick shot even though I was open. Then you get to thinking, 'Maybe I should have shot that.''

Minnesota guard Andre Hollins scored 20 points to lead all players. Iowa guard Peter Jok set his career high for points with 16.

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