IOWA CITY, IA – South Carolina State fell behind by 16 points at the half and trailed by as many as 20 in the final stanza in dropping an 82-69 decision to the University of Iowa Monday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Four Bulldogs scored in double figures in the loss, which sent Coach Tim Carter's team into the holiday break at 6-3. Jason Flagler led the way for SC State with 14 points, all but two coming in the second half. Darnell Porter and Arsenio Williams contributed 11 points each and Carrio Bennett 10 and a team-high four assists. Williams also had eight boards off the bench.
The host Hawkeyes, who played without suspended starting point guard Anthony Tucker, also placed four players in double figures. Matt Gatens tossed in 20 points for Iowa, Jarryd Cole 19, reserve Eric May 18 and Aaron Fuller 12. Iowa, which enjoyed a size advantage inside, improved to 5-7 on the season.
“My biggest concern coming into the game,” said the Bulldogs' Carter, “was dealing with their size and thickness inside. That proved to be a big problem for us. We couldn't handle their size inside and they also did a good job in hitting jumpers. They are a good-shooting team.
“But, I was disappointed we didn't do better,” he continued. “I thought we could come in here (Hawkeye Arena) and maybe pull an upset. And, we had some great looks but just could not convert. We lost two tremendous inside players from last season (6-7 Jason Johnson and 6-8 Josh Jackson) and we could have used them tonight.”
SC State scored the game's first five points on a layup and 3-pointer by Bennett but the host came back to go ahead 6-5 on a 3-pointer by Gatens and a three-point play by Cole with 17:53 left in first half. There were six lead changes and seven ties – the last at 24-all with 8:44 on the first- period clock -- before the Hawkeyes closed out the period with a 22-6 run to go to the lockerroom ahead 46-30.
The host increased its lead to 20 on four occasions in the second half – the last time at 56-36 with 15:28 left -- before the Bulldogs rallied to within 12 three times – the final time at 66-54 on a three-point play by Williams with 8:24 remaining. That was as close as the Bulldogs would come.
SC State begins a holiday break Tuesday before returning to campus Dec. 26 to prepare for its Dec. 29th contest at Clemson.
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