Keegan Murray leads Iowa to upset of No. 18 Ohio State

Feb 19, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Patrick McCaffery (22) is defended by Ohio State Buckeyes guard Eugene Brown III (3) and forward Kyle Young (25) during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 19, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Patrick McCaffery (22) is defended by Ohio State Buckeyes guard Eugene Brown III (3) and forward Kyle Young (25) during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Keegan Murray scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half and twin Kris Murray had all 11 of his points in the second as Iowa upset No. 18 Ohio State 75-62 in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes (18-8, 8-7 Big Ten), who led 39-38 at the half, have won four of five.

Malaki Branham scored 22 points and E.J. Liddell added 15 points and five blocks for the Buckeyes (16-7, 9-5).

Iowa broke a 49-49 tie with a 9-0 run for a 58-49 lead that began when Jordan Bohannon made two of three foul shots after being fouled by Jamari Wheeler, who went to the bench with his fourth personal foul.

The Hawkeyes later extended the lead to 66-53 with 5:34 left on back-to-back dunks off turnovers by Keegan Murray and Kris Murray and a Kris Murray layup as the Buckeyes went more than seven minutes without a made field goal.

Ohio State got to within 68-62 before Connor McCaffery, son of Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, nailed a 3-pointer with 1:44 left.

Keegan Murray entered the game third in the country at 23.3 points per game.

It was his show in the first half as he singlehandedly kept the Hawkeyes in the game when the Buckeyes threatened to blow it open.

A Liddell slam put Ohio State up 21-10 at the 13:14 mark but Keegan Murray hit a 3, threw down a dunk and made a free throw off it when fouled, put in a layup and slammed in another bucket for 10 consecutive points to make it a 21-20 score before Zed Key stopped the run with a short shot.

Iowa broke a 36-36 tie thanks to the first points by Bohannon on a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to make it 39-36. Liddell hit two free throws to make it a one-point game at the break.

— Field Level Media

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