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Iowa tops Minnesota 63-59

Sports

February 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — For about 37 minutes, Iowa and Minnesota played a weird game that leaned slightly toward the Gophers. Then Devyn Marble took over, providing an emphatic finish to a game that wasn’t clear until the final seconds. Senior Matt Gatens scored 18 points, Marble added 12 and Iowa rallied to beat Minnesota 63-59 on Wednesday night and snap a three-game losing streak. Marble keyed Iowa’s 9-0 run to close the game, following a 3-pointer with an emphatic one-handed dunk to tie the game at 59 with 1:43 left. Bryce Cartwright gave the Hawkeyes (12-11, 4-6 Big Ten) the lead with a pair of free throws, and Gatens hit an easy layup off a Marble feed with eight seconds left to seal the victory. Minnesota (16-7, 4-6) lost despite shooting 10 of 19 from 3-point range. Ralph Sampson III had 13 to lead the Gophers, who lost for just the second time in six games.