Iowa routs No. 16 Maryland to move up in Big Ten

IOWA CITY, Iowa – That wide-open race for second place in the Big Ten Conference? Well, here come the Hawkeyes.

Iowa punctuated an impressive week by overwhelming 16th-ranked Maryland 71-55 Sunday afternoon before a sellout crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Aaron White scored 17 points, and Adam Woodbury (16) and Peter Jok (15) each tied career scoring highs in the satisfying rout. Mike Gesell added eight points and a career-high nine assists.

The popular analysis before the Big Ten season began was that Wisconsin was clearly the league's best team and Any Team Here was the favorite for runner-up.

Iowa is firmly in the second-place conversation now after whipping Michigan, 72-52, in Ann Arbor on Thursday then dismantling the Terrapins on Sunday. The Hawkeyes (15-8 overall) are now tied for second in the loss column in the Big Ten, and the toughest part of the schedule is in the past.

Maryland, Indiana and Purdue stand 7-4 in the league behind 9-1 and fifth-ranked Wisconsin, with Iowa joining Ohio State and Michigan State at 6-4.

Of Iowa's final eight league games, only Illinois (6-5) and Indiana have winning conference records. There are two games against last-place Northwestern (1-9) and one each against Rutgers (2-9), Penn State (3-8), Minnesota (4-7) and Nebraska (5-6).

Iowa picked up where it left off in Ann Arbor, where it shot 72 percent in the second half. Sunday, the Hawkeyes shot 61 percent in a spirited first half – canning 14 of 23 shots. Yet, their defense was even better.

Iowa locked down Maryland, which fell to 19-5, in the first 11½ minutes. Maryland's first 18 possessions resulted in one basket on 10 attempts, eight turnovers and a 22-3 Hawkeye lead.

Iowa guard Josh Oglseby (illness) did not play.

Chad Leistikow writes for the Des Moines (Iowa) Register.