NCAA
Iowa 83, Purdue 76
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
IOWA CITY, Iowa — No. 20 Iowa ended a three-game losing streak to outlast Purdue 83-76 on Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes (20-9, 9-7 Big Ten) sank seven of their final eight free throws inside of 50 seconds to secure the victory. Guard Devyn Marble led the Hawkeyes with 21 points and five assists. Guard Mike Gesell and forward Aaron White each scored 15 for Iowa, with White also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Purdue (15-14, 5-11 Big Ten) erased a 50-37 Iowa halftime lead with crisp execution to begin the second half. The Boilermakers steamed back into the game on a 12-2 run, highlighted by three baskets from guard Kendall Stephens. The Hawkeyes stumbled offensively, scoring on just five of their first 19 second-half possessions.
The Boilermakers took a 64-60 lead with 11:17 left, but went eight consecutive trips without a score, including five with turnovers.
Iowa rallied with an 8-0 run, highlighted by White’s 3-pointer to retake the lead at 65-64.
Iowa finished the first half on a 15-5 run that extended a three-point lead to 50-37 at halftime. The Hawkeyes scored on their final seven first-half possessions, highlighted from nine points by Marble.
After a 2-for-11 start, Iowa connected on 16 of its final 22 shots of the first half.
Guard Rapheal Davis led Purdue with a season-high 18 points, including 13 in the first half.
Purdue outrebounded Iowa 40-33, but the Hawkeyes sank 26 of 36 free throws. Iowa collected 12 steals, committed just five turnovers and scored 18 points of Purdue’s 16 turnovers.
The Boilermakers have lost four straight games.
NOTES: The teams originally were supposed to play Saturday, but the game was pushed back one day after Iowa’s game at Indiana was postponed nine days because of a falling metal facing at Assembly Hall. … G Devyn Marble scored 21 points to remain the Big Ten’s only play to score in every league game this year. Marble passed Jess Settles to move into seventh place on Iowa’s all-time scoring list with 1,620 career points. … Iowa’s 83 points was the first time either team surpassed 80 in the series since 2003.
