Murray leads No. 24 Iowa past Rutgers in Big Ten Tournament
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) For Keegan Murray, confidence has been the key to Iowa's recent roll
''We've learned how when we're knocked back down, how to get back up,'' Murray said. ''If we get down, we can get on a run in any point in the game. Our mentality is never give up whether we're up 20 or down 20.''
Murray had 26 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 24 Iowa to an 84-74 victory over Rutgers in the Big Ten quarterfinals Friday.
Fifth-seeded Iowa, which has won seven of its last eight games, will meet ninth-seeded Indiana, a surprise winner over top-seeded Illinois, on Saturday in the semifinals.
Jordan Bohannon and Tony Perkins each scored 16 points for the Hawkeyes (24-9). Kris Murray added nine points and five rebounds.
Geo Baker led fourth-seeded Rutgers (18-13) with 23 points. Clifford Omoruyi had 17 points, and Ron Harper Jr. and Paul Mulchay each scored 13 points. The Hawkeyes led by 18 points midway through the second half.
Murray has 750 points, surpassing former teammate Luka Gaza's single-season Iowa record of 747 set last season.
''Last year I just tried to learn from Luka as much I could,''' Murray said. ''When you have a National Player of the Year on the team, you want to resemble him in a way. For me to break his record is a big credit to him and how he carried himself. It's an honor, for sure.''
The Scarlet Knights cut the lead to 71-63 but could get no closer.
With Rutgers down 79-66, its bench was called for a technical and Bohannon hit two free throws to help seal it.
Murray scored 18 of his points in the first half to help the Hawkeyes take a 41-32 advantage.
Rutgers had an early 15-5 lead, but Iowa responded by using a 15-1 run to take a 28-20 lead with 6:18 left in the first half.
''We got off to a good start, but couldn't finish the deal against a really good team,'' said Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, who agreed to a four-year contract extension through 2029-30 season before the game. ''Fran is a great coach. Keegan Murray was a problem for us from the opening tip. I thought we played like us for about 13 minutes in the second half and clawed back in it.''
For the game, Iowa shot 49% to 45% for Rutgers. The Hawkeyes held 21-11 rebounding edge in the first half and 34-28 advantage for the game.
''It's a hard team to outrebound, so that says a lot about our guys,'' said McCaffery, whose team lost 48-46 at Rutgers Jan. 11.
Baker said Rutgers scored enough to win.
''We didn't play like Rutgers on defense,'' Baker said. ''We didn't get enough stops.''
Pikiell said his team fouled too much. The Hawkeyes made 25 of 27 free throws.
HOME SWEET HOME
Iowa sophomore guard Tony Perkins, who is from Lawrence North in Indianapolis, sank 6 of 9 shots en route to 16 points.
''A lot of people who have seen me through high school know what I can do and now I can bring it to the next level,'' Perkins said. ''Playing in my home city and seeing everyone in the crowd really boosted my energy a lot.''
BIG PICTURE
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights hope their 12-8 record in the tough Big Ten will enough to earn an NCAA Tournament berth despite three straight nonconference losses to DePaul, Lafayette and UMass. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said it should be a no-brainer that Rutgers in the tournament.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes have won seven of eight and are entering the NCAA Tournament with momentum. Iowa blew by Northwestern 112-76 Thursday to set a Big Ten Tournament record for points.
UP NEXT
Rutgers: Awaits Selection Sunday.
Iowa: Faces Indiana on Saturday in the semifinals.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Keegan Murray vs. Clifford Omoruyi (Geo Baker gains possession) | Â | |
19:30 | +2 | Paul Mulcahy makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
19:17 | Â | Keegan Murray misses two point layup | Â | |
19:15 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | Â | |
18:50 | +3 | Geo Baker makes three point jump shot (Clifford Omoruyi assists) | 0-5 | |
18:36 | Â | Patrick McCaffery misses two point layup | Â | |
18:34 | Â | Keegan Murray offensive rebound | Â | |
18:29 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point layup | 2-5 | |
18:17 | +2 | Paul Mulcahy makes two point layup | 2-7 | |
18:11 | Â | Jordan Bohannon turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
17:53 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
17:47 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi offensive rebound | Â | |
17:49 | Â | Keegan Murray shooting foul (Clifford Omoruyi draws the foul) | Â | |
17:49 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
17:49 | +1 | Clifford Omoruyi makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-8 | |
17:22 | Â | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:20 | Â | Caleb McConnell defensive rebound | Â | |
17:14 | Â | Paul Mulcahy misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:12 | Â | Hawkeyes defensive rebound | Â | |
16:49 | +3 | Jordan Bohannon makes three point jump shot (Patrick McCaffery assists) | 5-8 | |
16:32 | +2 | Paul Mulcahy makes two point layup | 5-10 | |
16:20 | Â | Jordan Bohannon turnover (bad pass) (Geo Baker steals) | Â | |
16:15 | +2 | Geo Baker makes two point layup | 5-12 | |
16:15 | Â | Tony Perkins turnover (bad pass) (Geo Baker steals) | Â | |
16:15 | Â | Tony Perkins shooting foul (Caleb McConnell draws the foul) | Â | |
16:15 | +1 | Caleb McConnell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-13 | |
16:15 | Â | Caleb McConnell misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
16:15 | Â | Tony Perkins defensive rebound | Â | |
15:55 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. blocks Keegan Murray's two point jump shot | Â | |
15:55 | Â | Scarlet Knights defensive rebound | Â | |
15:55 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:38 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Ron Harper Jr. assists) | 5-15 | |
15:20 | +3 | Jordan Bohannon makes three point jump shot (Tony Perkins assists) | 8-15 | |
14:58 | Â | Paul Mulcahy misses two point jump shot | Â | |
14:56 | Â | Paul Mulcahy offensive rebound | Â | |
14:56 | Â | Paul Mulcahy turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Bohannon steals) | Â | |
14:38 | Â | Jordan Bohannon misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:36 | Â | Hawkeyes offensive rebound | Â | |
14:36 | Â | Aundre Hyatt personal foul | Â | |
14:26 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point layup (Jordan Bohannon assists) | 10-15 | |
14:17 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Geo Baker assists) | 10-17 | |
14:01 | Â | Patrick McCaffery turnover (lost ball) (Caleb McConnell steals) | Â | |
13:47 | Â | Aundre Hyatt misses two point layup | Â | |
13:45 | Â | Filip Rebraca defensive rebound | Â | |
13:30 | +3 | Tony Perkins makes three point jump shot (Keegan Murray assists) | 13-17 | |
12:55 | Â | Caleb McConnell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
12:54 | Â | Scarlet Knights offensive rebound | Â | |
12:54 | Â | Scarlet Knights turnover (shot clock violation) | Â | |
12:23 | Â | Keegan Murray misses two point layup | Â | |
12:21 | Â | Dean Reiber defensive rebound | Â | |
12:10 | Â | Caleb McConnell misses three point jump shot | Â | |
12:08 | Â | Dean Reiber offensive rebound | Â | |
11:59 | +2 | Ron Harper Jr. makes two point layup | 13-19 | |
11:52 | Â | Jordan Bohannon turnover (traveling) | Â | |
11:52 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:32 | Â | Aundre Hyatt misses two point layup | Â | |
11:30 | Â | Kris Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
11:15 | Â | Kris Murray misses two point layup | Â | |
11:13 | Â | Joe Toussaint offensive rebound | Â | |
11:07 | Â | Kris Murray turnover (bad pass) (Dean Reiber steals) | Â | |
10:38 | Â | Caleb McConnell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
10:36 | Â | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
10:25 | Â | Jordan Bohannon misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:23 | Â | Keegan Murray offensive rebound | Â | |
10:18 | Â | Joe Toussaint misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:16 | Â | Kris Murray offensive rebound | Â | |
10:16 | Â | Caleb McConnell shooting foul (Kris Murray draws the foul) | Â | |
10:16 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-19 | |
10:16 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-19 | |
10:08 | Â | Geo Baker misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:06 | Â | Kris Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
9:59 | +3 | Connor McCaffery makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists) | 18-19 | |
9:34 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
9:32 | Â | Payton Sandfort defensive rebound | Â | |
9:23 | +2 | Joe Toussaint makes two point layup (Payton Sandfort assists) | 20-19 | |
8:58 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. misses two point layup | Â | |
8:56 | Â | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
8:52 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point dunk | 22-19 | |
8:33 | Â | Kris Murray shooting foul (Geo Baker draws the foul) | Â | |
8:33 | Â | Geo Baker misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
8:33 | +1 | Geo Baker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-20 | |
8:06 | Â | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:04 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | Â | |
7:51 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:31 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
7:29 | Â | Payton Sandfort defensive rebound | Â | |
7:11 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point layup (Connor McCaffery assists) | 24-20 | |
7:11 | Â | Mawot Mag shooting foul (Keegan Murray draws the foul) | Â | |
7:11 | +1 | Keegan Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-20 | |
6:55 | Â | Kris Murray blocks Dean Reiber's two point jump shot | Â | |
6:53 | Â | Kris Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
6:45 | Â | Dean Reiber personal foul | Â | |
6:40 | Â | Payton Sandfort misses two point jump shot | Â | |
6:38 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | Â | |
6:26 | Â | Geo Baker misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:24 | Â | Payton Sandfort defensive rebound | Â | |
6:18 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point dunk (Connor McCaffery assists) | 27-20 | |
6:18 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi shooting foul (Keegan Murray draws the foul) | Â | |
6:18 | Â | Scarlet Knights 30 second timeout | Â | |
6:18 | +1 | Keegan Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-20 | |
5:52 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point dunk (Paul Mulcahy assists) | 28-22 | |
5:33 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. personal foul | Â | |
5:33 | Â | Official timeout | Â | |
5:18 | Â | Clifford Omoruyi shooting foul (Payton Sandfort draws the foul) | Â | |
5:18 | +1 | Payton Sandfort makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-22 | |
5:18 | +1 | Payton Sandfort makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-22 | |
4:54 | Â | Caleb McConnell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
4:52 | Â | Payton Sandfort defensive rebound | Â | |
4:44 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. blocks Payton Sandfort's two point jump shot | Â | |
4:42 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
4:29 | +2 | Geo Baker makes two point jump shot | 30-24 | |
4:19 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point jump shot (Connor McCaffery assists) | 32-24 | |
3:58 | Â | Paul Mulcahy misses three point jump shot | Â | |
3:56 | Â | Connor McCaffery defensive rebound | Â | |
3:50 | Â | Paul Mulcahy shooting foul (Kris Murray draws the foul) | Â | |
3:50 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:50 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-24 | |
3:51 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-24 | |
3:21 | Â | Aundre Hyatt misses two point jump shot | Â | |
3:19 | Â | Payton Sandfort defensive rebound | Â | |
2:50 | Â | Connor McCaffery turnover (bad pass) (Caleb McConnell steals) | Â | |
2:42 | Â | Kris Murray blocks Paul Mulcahy's two point layup | Â | |
2:40 | Â | Kris Murray defensive rebound | Â | |
2:30 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point dunk (Connor McCaffery assists) | 36-24 | |
2:23 | +2 | Geo Baker makes two point jump shot | 36-26 | |
2:12 | Â | Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot | Â | |
2:10 | Â | Geo Baker defensive rebound | Â | |
1:46 | Â | Aundre Hyatt misses three point jump shot | Â | |
1:44 | Â | Joe Toussaint defensive rebound | Â | |
1:38 | Â | Aundre Hyatt personal foul (Keegan Murray draws the foul) | Â | |
1:39 | +1 | Keegan Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-26 | |
1:38 | +1 | Keegan Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-26 | |
1:23 | +3 | Geo Baker makes three point jump shot (Paul Mulcahy assists) | 38-29 | |
1:02 | Â | Tony Perkins misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Scarlet Knights defensive rebound | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Filip Rebraca personal foul | Â | |
0:48 | +3 | Ron Harper Jr. makes three point jump shot (Paul Mulcahy assists) | 38-32 | |
0:24 | Â | Hawkeyes 30 second timeout | Â | |
0:18 | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot | 41-32 | |
0:06 | Â | Jordan Bohannon personal foul | Â | |
0:03 | Â | Joe Toussaint personal foul | Â | |
0:00 | Â | Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:00 | Â | Hawkeyes defensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |