Iowa hands loss to Gophers

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Surprising Iowa is in a scramble at the top of the Big Ten Conference.

The Hawkeyes, a seventh-place finisher a year ago with a 6-10 record, beat Minnesota 64-55 Wednesday to claim a share of the lead with Michigan State and Illinois at the halfway point of the conference season.

No. 18 Iowa improved to 17-4, its best start since the 1989 team won 17 of its first 21 games. The Hawkeyes also have six conference victories against two losses.

"This is what we worked for. All that hard work in the preseason is paying off for us," said Ryan Hogan, who scored 12 points in his third start of the season, while leading scorer Luke Recker sat out to rest an ailing knee.

The Hawkeyes also played without Duez Henderson, who started 18 of 20 games, but didn't play because of an injured ankle.

While the Golden Gophers (15-6, 3-5 Big Ten) fought back from a 15-point deficit to make it a three-point game with 3:39 to play, Iowa coach Steve Alford had no choice but to rely on freshmen reserves Brody Boyd, Cortney Scott and Glen Worley.

Boyd has had an inconsistent first year, but came of age against Minnesota, finishing with six points and three assists, with no turnovers in 25 minutes.

He also had three steals, including two in the final two minutes, and the Hawkeyes sank seven of eight free throws in the final 39.8 seconds to win their third straight game.

"The more minutes I play, the more confident I get, and I think the coach is seeing that," Boyd said.

Scott, meanwhile, had eight points and five rebounds.

"I'll tell you what really impressed me," Alford said. "We lost two starters, and down the stretch we won those last three minutes with guys that typically aren't in there at that time."

The Golden Gophers, who lost their third straight, were without third-leading scorer Michael Bauer, who broke his arm Saturday against Purdue.

"I don't want to make excuses, but without Michael Bauer our offense is a lot different," Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. "We defended better, but we gave up too many offensive rebounds.

No. 18 IOWA 64, MINNESOTA 55

MINNESOTA (15-6)

Bickerstaff 7-12 6-8 21, Rychart 4-8 0-0 8, Wildenborg 1-3 0-0 2, Simmons 3-8 2-2 9, Schilling 3-11 2-2 9, Burleson 2-8 0-0 6, Fleming 0-3 0-0 0, Bennett 0-6 0-0 0, Anderle 0-0 0-0 0, Hagen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-60 10-12 55.

IOWA (17-4)

Worley 1-4 0-0 2, Evans 7-15 5-8 19, Reiner 1-3 5-6 7, Hogan 3-12 4-6 12, Oliver 2-9 4-4 8, Boyd 1-4 3-5 6, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Scott 4-6 0-0 8, Sonderleiter 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-54 21-29 64.

Halftime--Iowa 27, Minnesota 20. 3-Point goals--Minnesota 5-22 (Burleson 2-4, Bickerstaff 1-3, Simmons 1-4, Schilling 1-6, Fleming 0-2, Bennett 0-3), Iowa 3-18 (Hogan 2-8, Boyd 1-4, Worley 0-2, Oliver 0-4). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 35 (Bickerstaff 9), Iowa 43 (Evans 15). Assists--Minnesota 11 (Bickerstaff 5), Iowa 16 (Oliver 4). Total fouls--Minnesota 21, Iowa 17. Technical--Minnesota bench. A--15,500.