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Iowa Men’s Basketball Falls to Utah State in Hall of Fame Classic
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling 77-69 to Utah State at the T-Mobile Center during the Hall of Fame Classic. Iowa’s record now stands at 5-1, while Utah State improves to 5-0.
Mason Falslev was the standout for the Aggies, leading all scorers with 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Ian Martinez contributed significantly with 13 points and a game-high six assists, helping Utah State dominate on the boards with a 16-rebound advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds, contributing to a crucial 24-12 edge in second-chance points.
Iowa went into halftime with a narrow lead of 37-33, having capitalized on its interior scoring, tallying 24 points in the paint compared to Utah State’s 16. Despite a challenging shooting night from senior guard Payton Sandfort, who scored 14 points but shot only 4-of-18 from the field, Iowan sophomores Brock Harding (19 points) and Owen Freeman (18 points) combined for a strong effort.
Utah State surged in the second half, outscoring Iowa 44-32 and utilizing a pivotal 9-0 run that shifted the momentum in their favor. Harding made a significant impact with 15 of his 19 points coming in the second half, showcasing his ability to shoot well and distribute effectively.
Head coach Fran McCaffery praised Harding’s performance while emphasizing the need for improvement on the boards, acknowledging the difficulty of winning when being outrebounded by 16.
Next, Iowa will look to bounce back against USC Upstate on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (CT) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with the game available on BTN.
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Photo credit hawkeyesports.com
