Fran McCaffery Technical Foul Sparks Iowa in Upset Win

It was the Luka Garza/Joe Wieskamp show Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but it was Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery who lit the spark that helped lead to a Hawkeye victory.

The 14:36 mark of the first half seemed to be the turning point Friday night. That's when McCaffery was whistled with a technical foul. Iowa had turned the ball over six times at that point and trailed 6-5. It woke up the Hawks. After Maryland hit three of five free throws from the technical and a personal foul on Bakari Evelyn to take a 9-5 lead, Iowa would outscore the #12 Terrapins 33 to 15 the rest of the half. Iowa led at the break 38-24 and coasted to a 67-49 win. The 49 points are the fewest Maryland has scored against Iowa in their 10 meetings.

Iowa also found the shooting touch from outside the 3-point circle in the game, after going 4 for 33 from long range against Nebraska on Tuesday. Friday night, Joe Wieskamp alone hit five three-pointers. He was five of nine from outside the arc. Wieskamp was 9-16 overall from the field and perfect at the free-throw line. His 26 points were a career-high. The sophomore also grabbed 11 rebounds, also a career-best.

It was another workmanlike performance by Iowa's center, Luka Garza, whose junior season is off to a phenomenal start. Garza poured in 21 points and 13 rebounds. It was Garza's 10th double-double of the season, the most for a Hawkeye player since Greg Brunner in the 2005-06 season. It was also the seventh time this season Garza has scored at least 20 while pulling down 10 or more rebounds.

Last night's win in Iowa City was the second time this season Iowa has beaten the 12th-ranked team in the nation. Iowa defeated Texas Tech on November 28. The Red Raiders are currently ranked #22.

Iowa, now 11-5, plays at Northwestern Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. The Hawkeyes will then play three straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where they've lost only once this season.

[Iowa Sports Information]