IOWA

NEB

Sandfort brothers lead Iowa in 83-68 win over Nebraska in must-win game to reach Big Ten Tourney

AP
Mar 09, 2025

LINCOLN, Neb.. (AP) Payton Sandfort scored 22 points, his brother Pryce knocked down four 3-pointers and Iowa Hawkeyes pulled away in the second half to beat Nebraska Cornhuskers 83-68, on Saturday, knocking the Cornhuskers out of the Big Ten Conference Tournament field and claiming the final slot for itself on the final day of the regular season.

The Hawkeyes (16-15, 7-13) entered the game one slot out of the field and needed the win to climb into a five-way tie for 14th with Nebraska (17-14, 7-13), Minnesota, USC and Northwestern. After Rutgers beat Minnesota in overtime Sunday, Wednesday's first-round games will be Northwestern-Minnesota, Iowa-Ohio State and USC-Rutgers.

Nebraska jumped to an 18-10 lead eight minutes into the game but Josh Dix answered with a layup and Drew Thelwell, Pryce Sandfort and Brock Harding each knocked down a 3 to put Iowa in front. The Cornhuskers tied the game at 31-31 on a Berke Buyuktuncel layup but Pryce Sandfort hit from deep and knocked down a jumper and Payton Sandfort scored twice to send Iowa into the break with a 40-35 lead.

The Hawkeyes pulled away steadily in the second half. Pryce Sandfort's 3 seven minutes pushed the lead to 10, 57-47.

Senior Payton Sandfort was 9 of 18 from the field, including 2 of 9 from deep, and grabbed eight rebounds. Sophomore Pryce was 5 of 9 from the floor, including 4 of. 6 from 3, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished three assists. Dix finished with 15 points and four assists. The Hawkeyes shot 31 of 63 from the floor and were collectively 11 of 28 from distance.

Juwan Gary led Nebraska with 24 points, converting 8 of 9 from the line, and grabbed seven rebounds. Sam Hoiberg added 12 points.

Nebraska joins Penn State and Washington in not reaching the tournament.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
IOWA
Hawkeyes
40
NEB
Cornhuskers
35

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Seydou Traore vs. Berke Buyuktuncel (Hawkeyes gains possession)
19:41		Seydou Traore misses two point jump shot
19:39		Ladji Dembele offensive rebound
19:33		Ladji Dembele turnover (bad pass)
19:07	+3	Juwan Gary makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)	0-3
18:49		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
18:47		Rollie Worster defensive rebound
18:34	+3	Juwan Gary makes three point jump shot (Sam Hoiberg assists)	0-6
18:11	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point layup	2-6
18:00		Juwan Gary misses three point jump shot
17:58		Josh Dix defensive rebound
17:50		Josh Dix misses two point jump shot
17:48		Berke Buyuktuncel defensive rebound
17:34	+3	Sam Hoiberg makes three point jump shot (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)	2-9
17:19		Juwan Gary personal foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
17:04		Josh Dix misses two point layup
17:02		Berke Buyuktuncel defensive rebound
16:45		Rollie Worster misses two point layup
16:43		Drew Thelwell defensive rebound
16:36		Ladji Dembele misses two point layup
16:34		Rollie Worster defensive rebound
16:26		Juwan Gary misses two point layup
16:24		Josh Dix defensive rebound
16:10		Drew Thelwell misses three point jump shot
16:08		Payton Sandfort offensive rebound
16:06	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point jump shot	4-9
15:57		Josh Dix shooting foul (Brice Williams draws the foul)
15:57		TV timeout
15:57	+1	Brice Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	4-10
15:57		Brice Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:57		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
15:36		Sam Hoiberg personal foul (Payton Sandfort draws the foul)
15:34		Seydou Traore misses two point jump shot
15:32		Andrew Morgan defensive rebound
15:16		Connor Essegian misses two point jump shot
15:14		Seydou Traore defensive rebound
14:59	+2	Josh Dix makes two point jump shot	6-10
14:39	+2	Sam Hoiberg makes two point jump shot (Brice Williams assists)	6-12
14:32	+2	Even Brauns makes two point layup (Drew Thelwell assists)	8-12
14:24		Payton Sandfort shooting foul (Sam Hoiberg draws the foul)
14:24	+1	Sam Hoiberg makes regular free throw 1 of 3	8-13
14:24		Sam Hoiberg misses regular free throw 2 of 3
14:24	+1	Sam Hoiberg makes regular free throw 3 of 3	8-14
14:11		Payton Sandfort misses two point layup
14:09		Rollie Worster defensive rebound
14:04		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
14:02		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
13:52		Connor Essegian blocks Payton Sandfort's two point layup
13:50		Payton Sandfort offensive rebound
13:47	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point layup	10-14
13:31		Brice Williams misses two point jump shot
13:29		Even Brauns defensive rebound
13:23		Drew Thelwell misses two point layup
13:21		Rollie Worster defensive rebound
13:13	+2	Andrew Morgan makes two point layup (Rollie Worster assists)	10-16
12:52		Drew Thelwell misses three point jump shot
12:50		Andrew Morgan defensive rebound
12:31		Sam Hoiberg misses two point layup
12:29		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
12:16		Payton Sandfort turnover (bad pass) (Brice Williams steals)
12:12	+2	Brice Williams makes two point layup	10-18
11:59	+2	Josh Dix makes two point layup	12-18
11:34		Sam Hoiberg misses three point jump shot
11:32		Even Brauns defensive rebound
11:26	+3	Drew Thelwell makes three point jump shot (Josh Dix assists)	15-18
11:06		Brice Williams misses three point jump shot
11:04		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
10:53	+3	Pryce Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Josh Dix assists)	18-18
10:51		Cornhuskers 30 second timeout
10:51		TV timeout
10:42		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
10:40		Even Brauns defensive rebound
10:22		Pryce Sandfort misses three point jump shot
10:20		Pryce Sandfort offensive rebound
10:17	+3	Brock Harding makes three point jump shot (Pryce Sandfort assists)	21-18
10:05		Ahron Ulis misses two point layup
10:03		Rollie Worster offensive rebound
10:01	+2	Andrew Morgan makes two point dunk	21-20
9:48		Pryce Sandfort misses two point jump shot
9:46		Cornhuskers defensive rebound
9:13		Ahron Ulis misses two point layup
9:11		Brock Harding defensive rebound
9:04	+2	Even Brauns makes two point layup (Brock Harding assists)	23-20
8:43	+2	Andrew Morgan makes two point layup	23-22
8:28	+2	Even Brauns makes two point dunk (Seydou Traore assists)	25-22
8:12	+2	Juwan Gary makes two point layup (Brice Williams assists)	25-24
8:12		Pryce Sandfort shooting foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
8:12	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 1 of 1	25-25
7:57		Brock Harding misses two point jump shot
7:55		Brice Williams defensive rebound
7:46		Juwan Gary misses three point jump shot
7:44		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
7:33	+3	Brock Harding makes three point jump shot	28-25
7:03	+2	Ahron Ulis makes two point jump shot	28-27
6:47		Seydou Traore turnover (bad pass) (Ahron Ulis steals)
6:43		Ahron Ulis turnover (bad pass) (Seydou Traore steals)
6:39		Brock Harding misses three point jump shot
6:37		Berke Buyuktuncel defensive rebound
6:28	+2	Juwan Gary makes two point layup (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)	28-29
6:07	+3	Pryce Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Brock Harding assists)	31-29
5:42		Seydou Traore personal foul (Brice Williams draws the foul)
5:42		TV timeout
5:27		Sam Hoiberg misses three point jump shot
5:25		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
5:24		Juwan Gary personal foul (Pryce Sandfort draws the foul)
5:06		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
5:04		Brice Williams defensive rebound
4:57		Brice Williams misses two point jump shot
4:55		Brice Williams offensive rebound
4:51		Brice Williams misses two point layup
4:49		Berke Buyuktuncel offensive rebound
4:47	+2	Berke Buyuktuncel makes two point layup	31-31
4:47		Brice Williams blocks Josh Dix's two point layup
4:45		Hawkeyes offensive rebound
4:37	+3	Pryce Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Brock Harding assists)	34-31
4:12		Berke Buyuktuncel misses three point jump shot
4:10		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
3:52		Brice Williams personal foul (Pryce Sandfort draws the foul)
3:52		TV timeout
3:37		Brock Harding misses three point jump shot
3:35		Connor Essegian defensive rebound
3:19	+2	Brice Williams makes two point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)	34-33
2:59	+2	Pryce Sandfort makes two point jump shot (Payton Sandfort assists)	36-33
2:38		Brice Williams misses two point jump shot
2:36		Brock Harding defensive rebound
2:19		Josh Dix misses three point jump shot
2:17		Brice Williams defensive rebound
2:03		Sam Hoiberg misses three point jump shot
2:01		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
1:50	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point jump shot (Josh Dix assists)	38-33
1:25		Andrew Morgan turnover (lost ball) (Payton Sandfort steals)
1:18		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
1:16		Andrew Morgan defensive rebound
1:01		Payton Sandfort blocks Connor Essegian's three point jump shot
0:59		Connor Essegian offensive rebound
0:57		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
0:55		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
0:46		Brock Harding turnover (bad pass) (Rollie Worster steals)
0:44		Brock Harding personal foul (Rollie Worster draws the foul)
0:31	+2	Brice Williams makes two point layup	38-35
0:28		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
0:10		Cale Jacobsen personal foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
0:07		Rollie Worster personal foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
0:00	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point layup (Drew Thelwell assists)	40-35
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
IOWA
Hawkeyes
43
NEB
Cornhuskers
33

Time		Play	Score
19:54		Ladji Dembele personal foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
19:43		Sam Hoiberg misses three point jump shot
19:41		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
19:38		Juwan Gary misses two point layup
19:36		Drew Thelwell defensive rebound
19:30		Berke Buyuktuncel shooting foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
19:30		Drew Thelwell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:30	+1	Drew Thelwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-35
19:06	+3	Berke Buyuktuncel makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)	41-38
18:44	+2	Josh Dix makes two point layup (Payton Sandfort assists)	43-38
18:22		Brice Williams misses three point jump shot
18:20		Berke Buyuktuncel offensive rebound
18:18		Brice Williams misses two point driving layup
18:16		Josh Dix defensive rebound
18:13		Berke Buyuktuncel personal foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
18:10	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point jump shot (Drew Thelwell assists)	45-38
17:50		Seydou Traore shooting foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
17:50	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-39
17:50	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-40
17:34	+2	Josh Dix makes two point driving layup	47-40
17:22	+3	Sam Hoiberg makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)	47-43
16:55		Sam Hoiberg personal foul (Drew Thelwell draws the foul)
16:38		Ladji Dembele misses three point jump shot
16:36		Seydou Traore offensive rebound
16:35		Rollie Worster personal foul (Seydou Traore draws the foul)
16:26		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
16:26		TV timeout
16:21		Josh Dix misses two point jump shot
16:19		Juwan Gary defensive rebound
16:11		Rollie Worster misses three point jump shot
16:09		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
16:06	+2	Juwan Gary makes two point putback layup	47-45
15:38		Drew Thelwell misses three point jump shot
15:35		Cornhuskers defensive rebound
15:35		TV timeout
15:04		Cornhuskers turnover (shot clock violation)
14:36	+2	Drew Thelwell makes two point driving layup (Josh Dix assists)	49-45
14:14		Berke Buyuktuncel turnover (lost ball) (Even Brauns steals)
14:03	+3	Josh Dix makes three point pullup jump shot	52-45
13:48		Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot
13:46		Even Brauns defensive rebound
13:42	+2	Josh Dix makes two point driving layup	54-45
13:40		Cornhuskers 30 second timeout
13:21		Payton Sandfort shooting foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
13:21	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-46
13:21	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-47
13:08	+3	Pryce Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Even Brauns assists)	57-47
12:54		Connor Essegian misses two point jump shot
12:53		Andrew Morgan offensive rebound
12:53		Payton Sandfort shooting foul (Andrew Morgan draws the foul)
12:53		Andrew Morgan misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:53	+1	Andrew Morgan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-48
12:39		Josh Dix misses two point jump shot
12:37		Connor Essegian defensive rebound
12:21		Even Brauns shooting foul (Andrew Morgan draws the foul)
12:21		Andrew Morgan misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:21	+1	Andrew Morgan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-49
11:59		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
11:57		Andrew Morgan defensive rebound
11:38		Even Brauns shooting foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
11:38		TV timeout
11:38		Juwan Gary misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:38	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-50
11:13	+2	Brock Harding makes two point layup	59-50
10:52		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
10:50		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
10:49	+2	Juwan Gary makes two point putback layup	59-52
10:34	+2	Josh Dix makes two point jump shot	61-52
10:21		Juwan Gary misses three point jump shot
10:19		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
10:05	+3	Payton Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Brock Harding assists)	64-52
9:47		Juwan Gary misses two point jump shot
9:45		Brock Harding defensive rebound
9:44		Andrew Morgan personal foul (Brock Harding draws the foul)
9:31		Pryce Sandfort misses two point layup
9:29		Berke Buyuktuncel defensive rebound
9:19	+2	Juwan Gary makes two point driving dunk (Connor Essegian assists)	64-54
8:49	+3	Payton Sandfort makes three point jump shot (Pryce Sandfort assists)	67-54
8:37		Josh Dix shooting foul (Connor Essegian draws the foul)
8:37	+1	Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-55
8:37	+1	Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-56
8:19		Rollie Worster shooting foul (Payton Sandfort draws the foul)
8:19	+1	Payton Sandfort makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-56
8:19	+1	Payton Sandfort makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-56
7:58	+3	Rollie Worster makes three point jump shot (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)	69-59
7:33		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
7:30		Cornhuskers defensive rebound
7:30		TV timeout
7:07		Juwan Gary misses two point jump shot
7:05		Rollie Worster offensive rebound
7:02		Rollie Worster misses two point layup
7:00		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
6:40	+2	Ladji Dembele makes two point layup	71-59
6:30		Brice Williams misses three point jump shot
6:28		Juwan Gary offensive rebound
6:28		Pryce Sandfort personal foul (Juwan Gary draws the foul)
6:28	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-60
6:28	+1	Juwan Gary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-61
6:06		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
6:04		Ladji Dembele offensive rebound
6:03		Juwan Gary shooting foul (Ladji Dembele draws the foul)
6:03	+1	Ladji Dembele makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-61
6:03	+1	Ladji Dembele makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-61
5:43	+2	Berke Buyuktuncel makes two point layup (Juwan Gary assists)	73-63
5:43		Josh Dix shooting foul (Berke Buyuktuncel draws the foul)
5:43	+1	Berke Buyuktuncel makes regular free throw 1 of 1	73-64
5:19		Josh Dix misses three point jump shot
5:17		Sam Hoiberg defensive rebound
5:09		Brock Harding shooting foul (Sam Hoiberg draws the foul)
5:09	+1	Sam Hoiberg makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-65
5:09	+1	Sam Hoiberg makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-66
4:46		Pryce Sandfort misses three point jump shot
4:44		Juwan Gary defensive rebound
4:31		Brice Williams turnover (lost ball) (Ladji Dembele steals)
4:26		Sam Hoiberg shooting foul (Pryce Sandfort draws the foul)
4:26	+1	Pryce Sandfort makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-66
4:26		Pryce Sandfort misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:26		Rollie Worster defensive rebound
4:08		Sam Hoiberg misses three point jump shot
4:06		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
3:38		Payton Sandfort misses three point jump shot
3:36		Ladji Dembele offensive rebound
3:36		Juwan Gary personal foul (Ladji Dembele draws the foul)
3:36		TV timeout
3:36		Ladji Dembele misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:36		Juwan Gary defensive rebound
3:18		Brice Williams misses two point jump shot
3:16		Payton Sandfort defensive rebound
2:51	+3	Brock Harding makes three point stepback jump shot	77-66
2:36		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
2:34		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
2:26		Sam Hoiberg personal foul (Brock Harding draws the foul)
2:26	+1	Brock Harding makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-66
2:26		Brock Harding misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:26		Berke Buyuktuncel defensive rebound
2:13		Juwan Gary misses two point layup
2:11		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
1:54		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
1:47		Juwan Gary shooting foul (Ladji Dembele draws the foul)
1:47		Ladji Dembele misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:47	+1	Ladji Dembele makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-66
1:44		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
1:42		Ladji Dembele defensive rebound
1:40		Sam Hoiberg personal foul (Ladji Dembele draws the foul)
1:40		Ladji Dembele misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:40	+1	Ladji Dembele makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-66
1:31		Ladji Dembele blocks Connor Essegian's two point layup
1:29		Pryce Sandfort defensive rebound
1:05		Josh Dix misses two point jump shot
1:03		Connor Essegian defensive rebound
0:57		Connor Essegian turnover (bad pass) (Payton Sandfort steals)
0:46		Brice Williams personal foul (Pryce Sandfort draws the foul)
0:46		Pryce Sandfort misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:46	+1	Pryce Sandfort makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-66
0:33	+2	Ahron Ulis makes two point driving floating jump shot	81-68
0:20	+2	Payton Sandfort makes two point layup (Pryce Sandfort assists)	83-68
0:12		Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
0:10		Josh Dix defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Josh Dix defensive rebound