Regardless of being a 31.5-point underdog at Iowa on Thursday night time, Jap Illinois pulled off a 92-83 win for the most important upset by level unfold within the fashionable period.
The Panthers – a middling crew from the mid-major Ohio Valley Convention – not solely shocked the Hawkeyes, however did so in Iowa Metropolis, the place house state followers had been visibly displeased with their college’s effort. Chad Leistikow, a columnist for the Des Moines Register and Iowa Metropolis Press-Citizen, reported on Twitter than an indignant Hawkeyes supporter confronted the Iowa huddle throughout a timeout earlier than being escorted away by safety.
It is nonetheless unclear if any bettor scored a significant payday with the upset. Caesars Sportsbook — one in every of a number of to supply a 31.5-point unfold on the sport – didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for extra data.
Extremely, Iowa held an early 18-4 lead, and the Large Ten college on its strategy to a straightforward win. As a substitute, the 350th-ranked Panthers pulled away from the Hawkeyes within the sport’s ultimate moments, as level guard Kinyon Hodges completed with 22 factors.
‘We chipped away,’ Jap Illinois coach Marty Simmons instructed reporters afterwards. ‘I feel going into halftime down eight was an actual blessing for us. I feel our guys felt like that they had a possibility in the event that they performed properly within the second half.’
With Iowa getting into as a 31 1/2-point favourite, the upset proved to be the most important by level unfold within the fashionable period, per Caesars Sportsbook.
Cale Donaldson completed with 16 factors, hitting 5 of 6 from the ground within the second half for the Panthers (4-9). Jap Illinois shot 72.4 p.c from the ground after halftime whereas outscoring the Hawkeyes 55-38 after trailing 45-37 on the break.
Yaakema Rose Jr. chipped in 13 factors and 6 assists for Jap Illinois, which shot 60 p.c from the sector for the night time.
Filip Rebraca scored 24 factors on 9-of-13 taking pictures and added eight rebounds for the Hawkeyes (8-4). Iowa has alternated losses and wins since starting the season 5-0.
‘It ought to linger, so it by no means occurs once more,’ Rebraca mentioned afterwards, as quioted by Leistikow. ‘We must always all the time use it as motivation. We perceive what occurred tonight. So after we come again from break, we have to know this will by no means occur once more.’
Payton Sandfort contributed 18 factors however shot solely 5 of 14 for the Hawkeyes. Tony Perkins collected 15 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists, and Patrick McCaffery added 12 factors and 13 rebounds, six on the offensive finish.
Iowa led 47-39 after Rebraca’s layup a couple of minutes into the second half, however the Panthers scored seven straight factors, the final 4 on a pair of dunks by Hodges.
Minutes later, Rose nailed a 3-pointer to provide Jap Illinois a 51-50 lead with 14:32 left within the sport. It was their first lead for the reason that first minute of the competition.
Two free throws by Sandfort restored Iowa’s one-point lead, however Rose hit a jumper and Jermaine Hamlin scored on a dunk to place the Panthers up by three, they usually by no means trailed once more.
Hodges scored six straight factors, all on dunks, as Jap Illinois broke away from a 55-55 tie to steer by six with 9:59 left within the sport. The Hawkeyes bought solely as shut as 5 thereafter, they usually trailed by 14 within the ultimate three minutes.
The sport was moved up 4 1/2 hours because of a poor climate forecast.
‘I assumed we had been just a little drained,’ Iowa coach Fran McCaffery mentioned after the loss, referencing the affect of an harm to veterans Kris Murray and Connor McCaffery. ‘We may have used Connor’s toughness, his veteran management and naturally one other skilled physique.’
However the Hawkeyes Coach was not making excuses.
‘We had sufficient wholesome individuals,’ Fran McCaffery mentioned. ‘I’d’ve thought we might’ve performed higher at present.’
