Iowa Men’s Basketball Cools Off Nebraska With Comfortable 94-72 Win

Iowa’s men’s basketball team cruised to a comfortable 94-72 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes (14-8, 6-4 Big Ten) were led by Kris Murray’s 23 points, while Filip Rebraca added 18 points and Connor McCaffery chipped in 16 points.

Hawkeyes Dominate From Start to Finish

Iowa set the tone early, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Hawkeyes continued to pour it on, extending their lead to 20 points at halftime, 50-30. Nebraska (10-12, 3-7 Big Ten) never threatened in the second half as Iowa cruised to the 22-point victory.

The Hawkeyes shot a blistering 60% from the field and made 10 three-pointers in the game. They also outrebounded Nebraska 36-25 and forced 12 turnovers.

Keegan Murray’s Absence

Iowa was without star forward Keegan Murray, who missed the game due to a non-COVID illness. Murray is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, so his absence was a significant blow.

However, the Hawkeyes were able to overcome Murray’s absence thanks to the contributions of other players. Kris Murray stepped up in his brother’s absence, scoring a game-high 23 points. Filip Rebraca and Connor McCaffery also played well, combining for 34 points.

Coach Fran McCaffery

“I’m really proud of the way our guys played tonight,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. “We knew that Nebraska was a good team, but we came out and played with great energy and focus. We shot the ball well, rebounded the ball well, and defended well. It was a great team win.”

Nebraska Struggles Continue

The loss was Nebraska’s fourth in a row and dropped their record to 3-7 in Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers have struggled all season, particularly on the offensive end. They rank near the bottom of the Big Ten in scoring and shooting percentage.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg was disappointed with his team’s performance.

“We didn’t play well tonight,” Hoiberg said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, we didn’t rebound the ball well, and we didn’t defend well. We got outplayed in every facet of the game. We need to find a way to get better.”

Conclusion

Iowa’s win over Nebraska was an impressive performance, especially considering that they were without their leading scorer. The Hawkeyes are now 6-4 in Big Ten play and are looking like a team that could make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska, on the other hand, is struggling to find its footing in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers are 3-7 in conference play and are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.