Iowa passes Boise State test 81-72
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa flew through the first six weeks of the season without a tight game. The Hawkeyes finally got a late-game test — and passed — less than a week before the start of Big Ten play.
None of Iowa’s first 12 games were closer than 10 points, but the Hawkeyes needed some big plays in the final minutes to beat Boise State 81-72 Thursday night. Devyn Marble and Aaron White each scored 18 points to lead Iowa.
“The reality is that’s sort of exactly what we needed,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “We needed a test tonight. We needed somebody to come in here, you hit them, they hit you back, you hit them, they hit you back.
“That’s what our league is night in and night out. We had to gut one out.”
Melsahn Basabe had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (8-5), who ended their nonconference slate with three straight wins.
Kenny Buckner led the Broncos (9-4) with 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting.
This was a tight game with 14 lead changes and 11 ties, including 57-57 after Boise State’s Thomas Bropleh hit a 3-pointer with 7 minutes left.
But Iowa scored the next eight points during the next two minutes — capped off by a transition layup by Matt Gatens. Basabe blocked a shot by pinning the ball off the backboard to start that break.
The Hawkeyes used that spark to complete a 15-6 run and put them up eight points with about three minutes left.
“After the block, I think we had them,” Basabe said.
The reserve freshman White reached double figures for the third straight game. He entered early after starter Zach McCabe picked up his second foul in less than four minutes. White immediately scored 10 of Iowa’s next 11 points during a back-and-forth stretch.
Matt Gatens scored 16 points for Iowa, which had 14 assists on 26 field goals and only five turnovers.
Anthony Drmic — Boise State’s top scorer at 14 points per game — did not play. The freshman sprained an ankle Monday night against Fresno State. The Broncos were also without guard Igor Hadziomerovic, who broke his foot in practice last week.
Derrick Marks scored 17 points off the bench for Boise State, which slowed down the tempo to help shore up the loss of the two guards.
“In some ways, that probably helped us to be more under control,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “We didn’t turn the ball over very much. We ended up grinding the shot clock more than we’re used to.”
Earlier this week, McCaffery said playing Boise State would be like going up against a Big Ten team. He’ll find out soon how that will really look. The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play against Purdue at home on Wednesday.
“I think we grew up a little bit,” McCaffery said. “We’re obviously playing better at both ends of the floor.”