January 3, 1999

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Northwestern had No. 21 Iowa on the ropes but just couldn't put the game away.

As a result, the Hawkeyes were able to launch a late charge led by Joey Range and beat the Wildcats 52-48 on Sunday for their ninth straight victory.

"It's a tough loss to take. At the end of the game we didn't handle the pressure," Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill said.

Evan Eschmeyer gave the Wildcats (7-3, 0-1 in the Big Ten) a 43-32 lead with 9:43 left to play, and a basket by Danny Allouche 50 seconds later made it 45-35.

But the Hawkeyes (11-1, 2-0) slowly came back as Northwestern went scoreless for the next five minutes. The Wildcats had trouble with the full-court press throughout the game, especially inbounding the ball over the final six minutes.

Northwestern committed seven turnovers and Iowa made four steals over the final 6:25. For the game, Northwestern had 20 turnovers which led to 17 points while Iowa got 11 steals.

"You have to adjust (to the press)," said Iowa coach Tom Davis. "Fatigue becomes a factor and the pressure of a tight game also becomes a factor."

After J.R. Koch put the Hawkeyes up 47-45 with 3:43 left, Julian Bonner's free throw made it a one-point game. The Wildcats last lead, 48-47, came on a pair of free throws by Eschmeyer with 2:46 remaining.

A layup by Jacob Jaacks with 2:08 left put Iowa ahead for good.

Range scored a season high 16 points, eight in each half.

"I never worry about putting the ball in the hole," Range said. "You hear a lot about freshmen jitters, but I've been playing basketball too long for that."

Davis said Range has been playing very well.

"He's a key player and is going to play more," he said. "He was making good plays on defense. But, he's not in great condition."

Kent McCausland added 12 points for the Hawkeyes.

"Iowa deserved to win in the last six minutes, but not the first 34," O'Neill said. "We did a good job. We got to learn to finish a game."

O'Neill said that the loss of Tavaras Hardy, who fouled out with 4:45 left, made it difficult on Joe Harmsen when Iowa was pressing.

"We didn't attack as aggressively as we should have," O'Neill said.

David Newman had 12 points and Eschmeyer added 11 for Northwestern, which led 25-22 at halftime.

The win was Iowa's seventh straight over Northwestern. The Hawkeyes have won 14 of 15 and 23 of the last 25 games against the Wildcats.