Indiana prevails over No. 4 Iowa, 85-78, and ties for the Big Ten lead
Iowa’s Mike Gesell, right, defends against Indiana’s Troy Williams in the second half on Thursday.
Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell scored 14 points, Troy Williams added 13 and Indiana rallied to upset No. 4 Iowa, 85-78, on Thursday night after blowing a big lead.
Indiana (20-5, 10-2) pulled into a three-way tie for the Big Ten Conference lead and gave Coach Tom Crean his fourth 20-win season at the school.
Jarrod Uthoff led the Hawkeyes (19-5, 10-2) with 24 points, and Mike Gesell had 17. Iowa lost for the first time in four games.
It could have been much easier.
Indiana was cruising in the first half, building a 16-point lead before giving it away.
The Hawkeyes closed to 45-38 at the half and scored the first nine points of the second half to take their first lead since the opening minutes.
Trailing 60-56 with 9:35 left, Indiana regained the lead with 14-2 run and never trailed again.
Iowa’s Peter Jok left in the second half with what appeared to be a lower left leg injury. He returned a few minutes later.
Indiana point guard Ferrell took a shot to the side of the face, then stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank two free throws to give the Hoosiers a 72-66 lead.
But the Hawkeyes wouldn’t go away. Trailing by nine with 4:34 to play, Iowa was within 79-76 when Gesell made two free throws with 22.5 seconds to go.
But Collin Hartman scored for the Hoosiers and Ferrell made four straight free throws to seal it.
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