The Iowa Hawkeyes (10-4, 1-0) picked up a 71-65 upset over No. 20 Ohio State (11-3, 0-1) in Columbus, Ohio in both squads conference opener. Iowa hit 17 three-point shoots throughout the game to build a 12-point halftime lead. A lead that Ohio State was unable to overcome.

Iowa picked up a big win, on the road, to open up conference play. (Courtesy of Hawkmania)

The final five minutes of the game, normally reserved for fouling, saw the Buckeyes take, and make, several three-pointers to close within three of Iowa. Freshmen guard D’Angelo Russell hit a three-point jumper to bring Ohio State within three, 60-63, with 3:28 left in the ball game. Iowa responded with a lay-up and a pair of free throws.

In the final minute, the Buckeyes’ were pushing the ball up the court quickly, but they were unable to make key shots down the stretch. Ohio State’s push up the court led to some sloppy ball handling mistakes, including an arrant passed that bounced around the court before being corralled by Iowa near the mid-court line.

The game came an end when senior forward Aaron White rebounded an Iowa a OSU lay-up; he as quickly fouled. White hit one of his two free throw of his free throws with less than five seconds left on the clock.

Despite the hot shooting by the Hawkeyes throughout the game, OSU stayed in the game thanks to sloppy ball handling by Iowa. The Hawkeyes bad passing cost the team several favorable match-ups down on the offensive end of the court, and gave Ohio State time to get set defensively. As a result, Iowa was unable to take th uncontested threes that had allowed them to build up control the pace of the ball game.

Ohio State managed to lose the Iowa lead to seven points with eight minutes left in the game, but the Hawkeyes managed to extend the lead back to nine on a pair of free throws by junior forward Jarrod Uthoff.

Iowa went into the locker room at the half with a 43-31 lead, thanks to its ridiculously hot shooting. Ohio State made some defensive adjustments at the half — the Buckeyes’ held the Hawkeyes to 28 second half points — but it wasn’t enough for the Buckeyes to complete the comeback win.

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