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Basabe-less Hawkeyes drop one to Wisconsin

The Iowa Hawkeyes played Saturday’s game against Wisconsin without a top player, as senior forward Melsahn Basabe was under the weather and did not play against the Badgers.

This was a big blow for the Hawkeyes because Basabe played well in last week’s game against Penn State. His 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks were huge in getting the win.

Iowa got off to a hot start, scoring the first five points of the game, but Wisconsin had seen enough.  The Badgers then went on a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to break the game open.  As the first half went on, it appeared defense was optional.  The teams traded baskets with no misses for a couple minutes, with neither team bothering to get a stop.

When the first half ended, the Badgers led by 9 points.

Iowa looked great coming out of the locker room.  They went on an 8-1 run over the first couple of minutes to close the Badger lead to 2 points.  The Hawkeyes wouldn’t be able to take the lead until around the 11 minute mark, when two free throws from Gabriel Olaseni gave Iowa a 1 point lead.

The two teams would  jostle for position throughout the last 10 minutes of the game. Iowa took the lead on a Josh Oglesby jumper with under a minute left. All they needed to do was get a stop.

Unfortunately, Frank Kaminsky, who killed the Hawkeyes all day long, would find an opening and would make a layup to put the Badgers back on top.

After a Devyn Marble turnover, Kaminsky went down and hit two free throws to push Wisconsin’s lead to 3.  Zach McCabe teed up a three to try to tie the game, but air balled it by about 2 feet.  Then two Trae Jackson free throws would seal it for Wisconsin.

Marble led the Hawkeyes with 21 points and 11 assists.  Kaminsky led the Badgers with 21 points.

Iowa’s next game will be on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. up in Minnesota against the Golden Gophers.