Despite Bennett Stirtz’s 32 points, 6 assists, and no turnovers, the Iowa Hawkeyes (18-6, 8-5) could never really find a team-wide groove in a 77-70 loss at Maryland (10-14, 3-10). It’s Iowa’s worst loss of the season, as Maryland was rated 161st coming into the game.
The Hawks struggled to contain Andre Mills throughout much of the first half as he scored 14 points on 6/8 shooting.
Throughout the half, Iowa struggled to score, going just 43% from the field and 33% from deep. A huge part of it was
the rim protection from the Terps, particularly Collin Metcalf who had 3 blocks in 12 first half minutes. Iowa was able to get five offensive boards in the frame and turn Maryland over six times but could only turn those into 4 points as Maryland went to half up 37-32.
Stirtz was excellent, with 13 points on 5/7 shooting while Tavion Banks added 8 in the first.
The second half lost all semblance of flow as it was marred by two interminable reviews and 35 free throws. Maryland going 15/23 from the line felt like what was keeping Iowa in it for much of the second.
Stirtz continued to do what he began in the first half with 19 points on 8/14 shooting but the team collectively fell in love with the three. 16 of their 31 attempts were from deep, and while many were good looks, they seemed just a little tight.
Brendan Hausen came in and quick made his first two threes but his third was more of the “hunting” variety which seemed to disorient his form. Just a bit too deep slightly out of rhythm. Iowa missed their final 10 attempts from 3 after that Hausen miss with 10:58 remaining.
On the other side, the bugaboo of struggling with guards continued to bug Iowa. Diggy Coit had 12 points and Mills added another 10 in the frame as the two constantly found themselves in the lane getting baskets or fouls, sometimes both.
Stirtz’s layup with 9:10 remaining was the latest time Iowa had the lead as Buzz Williams quickly called a timeout which led to Mills drawing a foul and tying it up. It sparked an 8-0 run Iowa could never dig out of, though Iowa went score/stop/score with a pair of baskets from Banks and Stirtz to bring it to 2 with 5:31 remaining.
Maryland made just one basket the rest of the way – a 3 with 2:55 remaining – as their free throw-based offense kept the Hawks at bay, finishing 12/16 from the charity strip despite going 1/5 from the field during the balance of the game.
One of those games against one of those opponents. Just goes to show how hard it can be two beat an opponent twice in a season, no matter their quality. The Hawks get the chance to show that as well as Purdue comes to town on Saturday.
