The run for the ninth seed Indiana Hoosiers is over after 80-77 loss to the fifth seed Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis Saturday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Jordan Bohannon hit a deep three pointer with 1.1 seconds left and Indiana missed a desperation heave at the buzzer to give the Hawkeyes the win and spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. Iowa (25-9) moves on to the championship game tomorrow at 3:30pm. The Hawkeyes are in the championship game for the fourth time and the first time since 2006 when they beat Ohio State 67-60 in this same building. Iowa beat Indiana 63-61 in 2001 at the United Center in Chicago and lost Ohio State 81-64 in Indianapolis in 2002.
Indiana (20-13) was led in scoring by Trayce Jackson-Davis, with 31 Points and 10 Rebounds; Xavier Johnson added 20 points, and Race Thompson added 11 points and seven rebounds. The Hoosiers were 30-63 from the field for 47%, 5-19 from three-point range for 26%, and 12-14 from the free throw line for 85%. Indiana pulled down 36 rebounds, dished out 22 assists, nine steals, and four blocks. Indiana committed 11 turnovers in the game. Indiana started the game out leading 15-3 with Jackson-Davis scoring 10 points and Xavier Johnson adding 5 points. Iowa got going with Keegan Murray and his brother Kris scoring all 14 points combined to tie the game up 17-17 with 8:42 left before halftime when Xavier Johnson hit a three pointer30nseconds later, to make it 20-17.
Iowa led 38-32 at halftime and outscored Indiana 48-39 in the second half. The game featured six ties and three lead changes and both Mike Woodson and Fran McCaffery voiced their displeasure the officials during the under four-minute media timeout when Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery crossed the half court line toward the Indiana bench to talk the officials.
Keegan Murray led the Hawkeyes with 32 points and nine rebounds, Patrick McCaffery scored 16 points and Bohannon added 12 points hitting four three pointers. Indianapolis Native Tony Perkins scored 8 points and was 2020 Indiana All-Star after finishing his HS career at Lawrence North HS. Iowa was 28-61 from the field for 46 percent, 14-32 from the three-point line 43 percent and 10-12 from the free throw line for 83 percent. Iowa pulled down 30 rebounds, dished out 20 assists, six steals and three blocks. Iowa committed 11 turnovers.
Iowa is looking to become the second ever 5 seed to win the Big Ten Tournament since Michigan beat Purdue 75-66 in the 2018 final in New York City. Indiana was the first nine seed, since Iowa in 2002, to make the semifinals, and the Hoosiers were in the Semifinals for the first time since 2013.
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