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Hawkeyes turn it on in second half to defeat Chippewas

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The first half wasn’t exactly the prettiest thing anybody watching the Iowa-Central Michigan game on Monday night at Carver Hawkeye Arena had seen.

The Hawkeyes struggled to score in the first half, shooting only 35 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc. Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, so did the Chippewas, who shot only 28 percent from the field and 35 percent from behind the arc.

The Hawkeyes trailed early in the game 5-4 at the under 16 minute media break, with Aaron White having all four points for the Hawkeyes.  Turnovers were a big part of the struggle for both teams through the first half, as the Hawkeyes ended the half with eleven and Central Michigan ended with 13.  Anthony Clemons, one of Iowa’s talented young freshmen guards, shot a three with 4.7 seconds left at the end of the first half to give Iowa the momentum going into the locker room.

“It was a real good intense thing,” Clemons said of his three pointer at the end of the half.

The Hawkeyes came out of the locker room very focused and it showed.  It appeared changes were made to attack the 2-3 zone defense Central Michigan was throwing at the Hawkeyes, and early on, the Hawkeyes found some holes.  Keno Davis, coach of the Chippewas, took a timeout with 12:27 left in the second half after a slam from Aaron White.

“We just had to weather the storm,” Gesell said of Iowa’s first half woes.  The freshman went on a roll midway through the second half, scoring and dishing the ball out to his teammates.

“I just needed to make a shot to get my confidence back,” Gesell said of his hot streak.

The Hawks had to hold off the Chippewas, who went on a minor 6-0 run to bring the game down into single digits, but ultimately Iowa would come out victorious, 73-61.  Devyn Marble led the Hawks with 18 points, while Gesell and White had 15 and 14.  Melsahn Basabe came off the bench with 9 points and 4 blocks.  Iowa is back in action Thursday night at Carver Hawkeye Arena as they take on the Howard Bison at 7:00.