By Blake Dowson
It didn’t bode particularly well for the Hawkeyes when they went into the locker room at halftime up by only 1 point after Michigan State committed 12 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
The Spartans cleaned up their play in the second half, committing only three fewer turnovers and shooting 55 percent from the field to pull away, winning 77-66.
The Hawkeyes didn’t shoot well at any point during the game. The 35 percent clip in the first half was the main reason Michigan State hung around, and the 30 percent clip in the second half made it impossible for the Hawkeyes to stick with the Spartans. The Hawkeyes made only nine shots in the second half.
“I thought [Michigan State] really got up into us,” Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said. “Thought they were connected and made it hard. We did have some open looks at times from some shooters, and they didn’t make them. So that’s unfortunate.”
Michigan State’s athleticism proved to be the determining factor in the game. The job it did collectively on Peter Jok was impressive — Jok ended with 13 points on 2-of-11 shooting, including 0-5 from behind the 3-point line. He did manage to pull down 5 rebounds and dish out 8 assists.
The overall length of the Spartans on defense caused Iowa problems up and down the lineup and made it possible for them to get good shot after good shot on the offensive end.
Freshman Miles Bridges was at the forefront of everything the Spartans did. The former McDonald’s All-American finished with a great stat line — 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and a number of monstrous dunks in 37 minutes. Both Ahmad Wagner and Tyler Cook tried to guard him, but Bridges’ ability to play both inside and out was too much.
“Bridges in the first half was the difference in the game,” McCaffery said. “We turned them over 12 times, should’ve been up by more than 1. Didn’t shoot it well, primarily because they defended well. They also kicked us on the glass.”
One of the bright spots in the game for the Hawkeyes was the first-half play of point guard Christian Williams. The sophomore logged 14 first half minutes after starter Jordan Bohannon picked up two quick fouls, and he ended the half with 4 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
The Hawkeyes now have a week off until their next game, a Saturday matchup with Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye.