Facing its first big test of the 2023-24 season, the Iowa Hawkeyes represented themselves well.
Iowa fell at No. 7 Creighton, 92-84, but the Hawkeyes showed a number of encouraging signs in the setback. Iowa graduate transfer forward Ben Krikke was fabulous, scoring a game-high 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
Behind Krikke and junior forward Payton Sandfort’s strong play, the Hawkeyes built a 22-15 lead in the first half. After a number of first-half lead changes, the contest went to the break even at 43.
Playing inside their home arena, the Bluejays responded like an Elite Eight team from the season before should: Creighton came out roaring to start the second half. The Bluejays began the second half on an extended 37-20 scoring run. Creighton senior guard Francisco Farabello canned a 3-pointer to give the Bluejays their largest lead of the night, 80-63. It electrified the CHI Health Center crowd in Omaha, Nebraska.
But, Iowa didn’t blink. The Hawkeyes fought back and whittled the Creighton lead to just five points, 89-84, with 1:26 remaining after redshirt senior forward Patrick McCaffery got loose and slipped to the basket for a slam.
Iowa couldn’t come away with the final stops and buckets it needed to either win it in regulation or take the contest into overtime. It looked like Sandfort was fouled on a late 3-point try, but that wasn’t whistled in Iowa’s favor either.
Playing with house money on the road against an elite team in Creighton, the performance left Iowa fans feeling good about this team’s potential prospects. Take a look at how social media responded to an encouraging road performance from the Hawkeyes.