Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Box Score on Feb 06, 2022

Keegan Murray had 24 points and 15 rebounds as host Iowa pulled away in the second half for a 71-59 victory over Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference matchup Sunday afternoon in Iowa City.

Patrick McCaffery added 18 points and seven rebounds for Iowa (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten), which outscored the Gophers 37-21 in the second half.

Iowa turned the game with a 22-4 run midway through the second half. Ahron Ulis' fastbreak layup put the Hawkeyes up 64-41 with 6:28 remaining.

Iowa, which had lost three of its previous four, was without head coach Fran McCaffery, who tested positive for COVID on Friday, and reserve guard Connor McCaffery, out with an arm injury. Assistant Billy Taylor assumed the coaching reins.

Luke Loewe had 19 points and Payton Willis scored 16 for Minnesota (11-9, 2-9), which lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Leading scorer Jamison Battle (17.8 points per game), who had 33 consecutive double-figure scoring games, managed just two points on 1-for-12 shooting.

Minnesota, which shot 48 percent in the first half, shot just 23 percent after the break, making 7 of 30 shots. Iowa shot 52 percent in the second half, making 16 of 31.

The Hawkeyes had a 34-16 advantage on points in the paint, including 22-6 in the second half. Iowa also had a 21-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Willis' jumper with two seconds left in the half put the Gophers up 35-34. Loewe then intercepted the Hawkeyes' pass just beyond half court and banked in a 3-pointer to put the Gophers up 38-34 at the break.

Murray had 14 points in the first half, making 5 of 10 shots, along with nine rebounds.

--Field Level Media