Iowa 71, Northwestern 57
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Devyn Marble scored 21 points to lift himself and the Iowa Hawkeyes out of a slump with a 71-57 victory against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Marble, a junior guard, was 8-of-13 from the field. He entered the season as a possible all-Big Ten candidate but had made just eight of his last 44 shots entering the game.
Marble started strong against the Wildcats, scoring the first points on a two-handed dunk. He knocked down a 3-pointer four possessions later to give Iowa (15-9, 4-7 Big Ten) a one-point lead. He also added five rebounds and five assists.
Reggie Hearn led the Wildcats (13-11, 4-7 Big Ten) with 13 points.
Josh Oglesby added 10 points for Iowa, including a pair of 3-pointers during a 10-0 run in the final 12 minutes that put the game of reach.
Northwestern had drawn within 40-38 with 12 minutes left on Kale Abrahamson's 3-pointer.
Iowa had dropped its last two games in the final seconds, both in tough fashion. The Hawkeyes led by two points until allowing a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left at No. 18 Minnesota. They led Wisconsin by nine points with six minutes left before losing in double overtime at Kohl Center.
Northwestern suffered two significant injuries in the second half Saturday. With 18:35 left in the game, center Alex Olah tangled up with Iowa's Adam Woodbury for a rebound, and Olah was hit the head. Olah went the ground and then to the training room. Forward Jared Swopshire injured his leg while attempting a layup with 13:41 left in the game. Neither player re-entered the game.
Northwestern clawed to a four-point lead midway through the first half on Hearn's layup and a pair of baskets from Dave Sobolewski. Iowa then went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by two Melsahn Basabe baskets and two field goals from Marble.
The Wildcats took a 23-21 lead when Hearn followed his own miss, but the Hawkeyes countered with an 8-2 run to take control and lead by four at halftime.
NOTES: Marble notched a season-best eight field goals in Big Ten play. Marble's previous high was four in three league games. ... Northwestern had beaten Iowa two consecutive times at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. ... Two of Northwestern's worst shooting performances this year have come against Iowa. The Wildcats shot 35.1 percent Saturday. Northwestern's season low was 29.4 percent in Evanston on Jan. 13.
