Rebounding, free throw problems sink IU

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- For 21 games -- 16 of which resulted in wins -- the IU men's basketball team has prided itself on its ability to crash the boards when all else failed. \nSaturday, in the 22nd game of the Hoosiers' season, that identity was lost. \nIowa outrebounded IU 42-25 -- including a 15-6 margin on the offensive end -- as the Hoosiers dropped their second Big Ten road game in row and fell to 6-3 in the conference. IU is 16-6 overall. \n"We've been a good rebounding team all year," IU coach Kelvin Sampson said. "We certainly weren't today."\nSampson chalked the rebounding differential to Iowa's competitive ethic on the boards, an attitude the Hoosiers apparently didn't share Saturday.\n"It comes down to competing on the boards," Sampson said. "Iowa's kids beat us on the boards. That story was more important than any other thought you might have. The team that's more aggressive in that area usually wins the game.\n"It's not about the double team on (IU forward) D.J. (White)," Sampson said. "It's not about what they did. It's about being aggressive on the boards. If you're aggressive on the boards, it usually carries over into other phases of your game, and you've got a chance to win."\nDespite the rebounding margin, IU led the game in the first half and was competitive throughout. Fouls -- 56 of them between both teams throughout the game -- played a huge part in the game, especially when IU was forced to foul Iowa down the stretch in an attempt to force overtime or steal a late win. \nThe Hawkeyes were able to maintain their lead by making 32 of 37 foul shots -- including 18 of their last 19 in the final five minutes to seal the victory.\n"To step up and make free throws when the whistle continues to blow, that's big," said Iowa coach Steve Alford. "We just never really gave them a chance to get within one possession, where a made three or something late or something goofy could get them into overtime."\nIU cut the deficit to two with just 23 seconds left, but Iowa forward Tyler Smith made both of his free throws to re-extend the lead, and the Hoosiers were unable to overcome the late deficit. Smith was 10 for 10 from the free-throw line Saturday. The Hawkeyes' final 15 points all came from the line.\nThat high foul rate went unutilized by the Hoosiers, who converted only 17 of 23 free throws. At the same time, IU was forced to play a zone for parts of the second half thanks to its coach's fear of foul-outs. \nIU junior forwards Mike White and D.J. White and junior guard A.J. Ratliff fouled out in the second half.\n"I didn't know if I was going to be able to finish the game," Sampson said. "But you go on the road and you're going to run into a little bit of that. Give Iowa credit -- they made their foul shots. A lot of teams get to the foul line and don't make their shots. Our kids kept fighting, kept competing"