Iowa basketball takeaways: Hawkeyes get first true road win of season over Rutgers

Posted by author February 13, 2025 Basketball

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Trailing by as many as 11 points late in the first half, Iowa men’s basketball roared back to beat Rutgers, 84-73, on Wednesday.

Playing on the road without Drew Thelwell and Owen Freeman in a season that has been going down the drain, the Hawkeyes showed perseverance. It was a team effort as Iowa outscored Rutgers by 20 in the second half to earn the victory.

The Hawkeyes got some important plays from Ladji Dembele and Brock Harding in the second half, two players who have gone from the starting lineup to the bench this season. On Wednesday they were back in the starting lineup.

Harding had nine points in the second half. Dembele had seven. Josh Dix delivered 16 of its 26 points in the second half.

The Hawkeyes came into the contest having lost six of their last seven games, but Wednesday’s gritty showing resulted in their first true road win of the season.

With the win, Iowa improves to 14-10 overall, including 5-8 in Big Ten play. The victory holds some weight in the Hawkeyes’ chances of making the Big Ten Tournament as only 15 of the league’s 18 teams qualify for the event.

Iowa basketball contained Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper

Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey were the headliners entering Wednesday’s matchup. They could be one of the best tandems in the Big Ten — if not the best. Rutgers’ pair of freshmen could both very well be lottery picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.

Iowa did a good job containing them after they each picked up two fouls in the first half. Still, they finished the contest combining for 24 points.

That is eye-opening given each entered the day averaging around 19 points per game.

They also combined for seven turnovers between them.

Josh Dix, Payton Sandfort outshine Rutgers’ duo

Dix and Sandfort carried the load offensively for Iowa. That duo scored 46 of Iowa’s 84 points.

Dix was incredibly efficient, shooting 11-of-17 from the field.

Being without Thelwell and Freeman was tough, but Iowa got 10 points off the bench from Pryce Sandfort. Dembele and Harding combined for 22 points.

The Hawkeyes smashed the Scarlet Knights in the paint, 44-28, which hasn’t been standard for Iowa this season. They also outrebounded Rutgers, 34-30.

The Hawkeyes were 9-of-10 from the free throw line, which has been a struggle this season, as well.

Video: Payton Sandfort talks Iowa basketball’s road win over Rutgers

Payton Sandfort discusses Iowa basketball’s 84-73 win over Rutgers.

Lineup shakeup

Freeman is done for the season. Thelwell hurt his ankle against Wisconsin and, though he returned in that contest, was unavailable on Wednesday.

With Thewell out, there was already going to be a change to the starting lineup. That came with Harding making his way back into the first five after coming off the bench the previous two games.

But Fran McCaffery also opted to go with Dembele in the starting lineup over Riley Mulvey, who started against Purdue and Wisconsin.

Wednesday’s new starting lineup consisted of Harding, Josh Dix, Payton Sandfort, Seydou Traore and Dembele.

To still be mixing and matching at this point of the season is not ideal, but it is reflective of how Iowa’s season has gone.

Here is a rundown of how those players fared against Rutgers.

Brock Harding: 13 points, four rebounds and seven assists
Josh Dix: 26 points, four rebounds and two assists
Payton Sandfort: 20 points, six rebounds and three assists
Seydou Traore: Four points and six rebounds
Ladji Dembele: Nine points and four rebounds
Riley Mulvey: Four rebounds

Finally solving road puzzle

It’s mid-February and Iowa has finally won its first true road game of the season.

Entering Wednesday, Iowa was 0-5 on the road.

Only one of those games was decided by single digits, a two-point loss at Michigan in December. Since the calendar turned to 2025, Iowa has lost its road games by 31 (Wisconsin), 10 (USC), 24 (UCLA) and 17 (Ohio State).

But that changed against Rutgers.

To see Iowa earn its first true road victory is important since four of the Hawkeyes’ final seven games are on the road.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com