IOWA CITY -- The Iowa men's basketball team came up short in the final minute against Oregon and dropped an 80-78 decision on Wednesday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes (14-12, 5-10 Big Ten) got a pair of attempts to tie or take the lead in the final 10 seconds but came up empty as a Josh Dix layup swirled out and three-pointer got blocked.
The Ducks (19-8, 8-8 Big Ten) won the battle on the glass 36-27 in the first meeting between the two teams since 2021.
Following the game, Dix said he liked both of his late looks as well as a Payton Sandfort layup with 40 seconds left that also refused to fall.
"I probably should have shot it right when I got the ball," Dix said. "But, I was happy with the layup I took ... I thought it was going in. I thought Payton's was going in. Those are looks we will live with. We will make them next time for sure."
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According to head coach Fran McCaffery, he also liked both of Dix's looks and Sandfort's ill-fated layup.
"I feel bad for that and so do they," McCaffery said. "Really amazing performances considering how they were guarded."
Oregon took an early 9-3 lead as Iowa shot just 1-of-5 from the floor over the first four minutes.
The Hawkeyes recovered from their slow start to tie the game 20-20 on a Dix three-pointer with 10:57 remaining in the first half. After Dix's triple, the Ducks outscored Iowa 25-17, including a 6-0 run to answer the three, to regain a 45-37 lead by the halftime break.
Oregon senior Nate Bittle connected on his first six field goal attempts in the first half to lead the Ducks with 14 points at the break. Dix shot a similarly strong clip (6-of-8 from the field) to finish the half with a game-high 15 for Iowa.
After their slow start, the Hawkeyes shot 13-of-21 to close out the first half.
Iowa managed to tie the game up with a 12-4 push in the first five minutes out of the break behind five points from Sandfort.
Sandfort connected on a three-pointer less than two minutes later to give the Hawkeyes their first lead since the opening minute of the game.
Oregon surged back in front with an 8-2 response as Keeshawn Barthelemy and T.J. Bamba connected on three-pointers.
Even Brauns, with four points, powered a 7-0 run for Iowa between the 8:00 and 5:50 marks of the second half to bring the game back to even at 67-67.
The lead changed hands four times over the final five minutes, but the Ducks took a one-point advantage on a Bittle three to beat the shot clock with 2:25 remaining and did not give the lead back.
Sandfort led all players with 25 points. Dix added 19 and Brauns scored 15 -- a new Hawkeye career-high.
Bittle led Oregon with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double while Barthelemy, Bamba and Brandon Angel each scored 10.
Brauns posts career night
In three seasons at Belmont, Brauns saw action in 92 games and started 31 over his final two seasons. The Iowa City West product averaged 7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21 minutes per game during his junior season with the Bruins.
He has not seen the same usage at Iowa, appearing in just 37 games in two seasons and averaging just 4.6 minutes.
Following the loss, Brauns discussed how the change in usage impacted him after his career night.
"It is really hard," Brauns said. "It has been hard to keep confidence. All credit to my teammates and the coaches, they really kept me in it. It is hard going from 25 minutes a game to 2, but I am just thankful that a lot of people believe in me. I was never going to quit, showed up every day ready to go, so I am just glad it paid off.
"This university means everything to me. It was always my dream to play here. So, every chance I get out there, whether I am playing five minutes or 20, play as hard as I can until I physically cannot play anymore."
In addition to his Iowa career-high in points, his 22:46 of playing time also represented a high-water mark for his Hawkeye tenure.
According to McCaffery, the key for Brauns against Oregon -- and moving forward -- was his aggressiveness.
"That is what I have been trying to get him to do," Brauns said. "In his defense, he needs more minutes to do that, but he has it in him. He was terrific tonight. I am really proud of him.
"He is an amazing young guy. He is just character through and through. He had every reason, he had every right to be frustrated with his playing time. We had some other guys ahead of him, but he just keeps plugging."
Respect Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix -- signed Fran McCaffery
Following Iowa's loss to Wisconsin two weeks ago, McCaffery said he felt Sandfort deserved more respect from officials due to his proven ability.
His comments regarding the Ducks' manner of guarding Sandfort and Dix on Wednesday struck at the same issue for McCaffery.
"It is just disappointing how that continues," McCaffery said. "... They are both pretty level-headed, competitive guys. They are just going to keep coming. That is the message to them. I am sure there is a level of frustration there. ... Those two guys want to keep coming. They are going to keep leading in the locker room. That is why I love them both."
Drew Thelwell limited in return
Iowa graduate senior guard Drew Thelwell returned to the lineup against Oregon after missing the Hawkeyes' previous two games.
Though he started, the Morehead State transfer played just 15:21 -- his lowest amount of playing time this season.
McCaffery attributed the limited role to his extended absence.
"Drew was out a while," McCaffery said. "He practiced yesterday. I am really proud of him. He worked really hard to get back. He wants to be out there, wants to contribute. I thought in practice yesterday he was just OK. He has got to get his game back, and he will get there. He will be better."
Up Next: The Hawkeyes host Washington (13-12, 4-10 Big Ten) on Saturday at 3 p.m. with broadcast coverage provided by Fox Sports 1 and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
3 Takeaways from Iowa men's basketball: Hawkeyes' road woes return in second half
Oregon | Josh Dix & Even Brauns Press Conference | Feb. 19
Iowa MBBall vs. Oregon 3
Iowa's Payton Sandfort, right, goes up for a rebound against Oregon's Brandon Angel, left, during an NCAA men's basketball game at Carver-Hawk...
Iowa MBBall vs. Oregon 4
Iowa's Ladji Dembele secures a rebound during an NCAA men's basketball game against Oregon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Wedne...
Iowa MBBall vs. Oregon 9
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery yells at an official during an NCAA men's basketball game against Oregon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, ...
Iowa MBBall vs. Oregon 10
Iowa's Ladji Dembele attempts a three-pointer during an NCAA men's basketball game against Oregon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa o...
Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at [email protected].
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