Dialed up the randomizer and chose the fourth game down the Wikipedia bracket in the 2003 NIT’s second round. Turned out to be Iowa vs. Iowa State (sorry, Joe). Here’s the AP recap:
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Brody Boyd sank a free throw with 21 seconds left to propel Iowa to the second round of the Owens Corning NIT tournament with a 54-53 victory over in-state rival Iowa State Friday night.
Boyd hit the first of two from the line and put Iowa back in front after Iowa State had rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 7:38. Except for the final score, the game mirrored the first meeting of the two teams when Iowa State rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to win 73-69 in Iowa City in December.
The Cyclones had two chances to go ahead in the final seconds, but Tim Barnes, who struggled with his shooting all night, missed a short one outside the lane and a desperation jumper at the buzzer.
Iowa (17-13) was led by Glen Worley, who had 13 points despite fouling out with 2:13 to go. Chauncey Leslie scored 11 points and Sean Sonderleiter chipped in 10 as the Hawkeyes earned a date with Georgia Tech at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Monday night.
A three-point play by Jared Reiner put the Hawkeyes up 48-37 with 7:38 left in the game.
But just like the first meeting, Iowa State (17-14), led by Jackson Vroman, rallied.
Vroman, playing with four fouls much of the second half, hit two of four free throws, a left hand hook across the lane and made a key steal to bring the Cyclones to within three with 3:41 left. Iowa failed to fire a shot in four possessions during that stretch.
Barnes’ only basket, a 3-pointer with 3:04 to go, tied it at 49. Vroman then stole an Iowa pass and fed a streaking Marcus Jefferson who was fouled by Worley going up for a layup. Jefferson hit both free throws and the Cyclones led 51-49.
After Vroman scored to put Iowa State up 53-50, Iowa guard Jeff Horner hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 53 just before the shot clock expired, setting up Boyd’s heroics. Boyd finished with six points.
Vroman led the Cyclones with 20 points and Jared Homan added 14. But the Cyclones struggled all game from the field, shooting just 34.5 percent compared to 46.3 percent for Iowa. Barnes and guard Jake Sullivan were just 4-of-26 shooting.
The game marked the first time the two teams had met in the postseason and the first time since 1921 that they played twice in a season.
Iowa State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, energizing an enthusiastic sellout crowd. But the Hawkeyes, led by Leslie, went on a 13-2 run over the next 5:49.
Despite losing leading rebounder Vroman with three fouls midway through the opening half, the Cyclones briefly reclaimed the lead.
Jake Sullivan hit a 3-pointer from NBA range — his only points of the half — after missing two free throws to bring the Cyclones within one. On the next possession, Homan gave Iowa State the lead 19-18 on a turnaround jumper over Sonderleiter.
But the Hawkeyes went on an 8-0 run to close out the half with a 26-19 lead.
