Adam Woodbury’s basket at buzzer lifts Iowa over Temple
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Jarrod Uthoff #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives against Quenton DeCosey #25 of the Temple Owls in the first half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 18, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/ Al Bello
This may not have been survival of the fittest, but at least it was survival.
Little went right during the past six weeks for Iowa as it collapsed from a No. 3 national ranking with six losses in eight games. And little went right through 40 minutes and overtime against Temple on Friday. But at the last second, things finally did.
Adam Woodbury put back Mike Gesell’s miss just as the buzzer expired in overtime as the Hawkeyes eked out a 72-70 victory in a South Regional first-round game before 17,333 at Barclays Center.
Replays showed the 7-1 center with both hands on the back of the Owls’ Obi Enechionyia, but the senior wasn’t whistled for pushing off.
“I knew that if Mike got a good look at it and it was a little long, I’d be able to get the offensive rebound,” said Woodbury, who had 10 points. “I was fortunate enough to put it in. Just one of those right place, right time kind of deals.”
Iowa (22-10) was a wreck coming in, falling from its lofty perch to a No. 7 seed. It had a few good moments before the final play, but not many. First the Hawkeyes blew a 12-point lead in the first half. Then they gave up the last of a 10-point second-half lead by committing a three-shot foul with 2.1 seconds left in regulation. Even the final play started badly with Geselle — to that point 0-for-7 from the floor — taking the shot.
After executing well enough to lose, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said, “We couldn’t get a shot to go down . . . If we’re not coming apart at either end — and what I’m seeing is a group that’s fighting — then I’m fine.”
Jarrod Uthoff had 23 points and Peter Jok had 16 for Iowa. Quenton DeCosey led Temple with 26 points. Josh Brown added 16 and Jaylen Bond had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Iowa will meet second-seeded Villanova tomorrow for a spot in the Sweet 16. After Villanova won, Temple tried to make it an all-Philadelphia meeting. The Owls did all they could but didn’t catch the game’s last break.
When Iowa made a run of six three-pointers in nine tries, the Owls kept making jumpers and drives to stay close. And they staged a furious final four minutes in regulation — outscoring Iowa 10-2 — and reached overtime when DeCosey made all three free throws after being fouled by Anthony Clemmons.
In overtime, Josh Brown’s jumper with 51 seconds left tied it at 70.
Bronx product Daniel Dingle had a chance to give the Owls the lead when he was fouled with 22 seconds left in OT, but he missed the front end of the one-and-one, allowing Iowa the final possession.
