COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was the tale of two halves at Nationwide Arena. Oh, and an overtime, too. By the time second-seeded Tennessee outlasted 10th-seeded Iowa on Sunday afternoon, it was more of a relief than the rout it once appeared to be.
Grant Williams and Jordan Bone combined for 11 of Tennessee’s 12 points in overtime as the Vols earned an 83-77 victory over the gallant Hawkeyes and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Tennessee (31-5) got 19 points each from Williams and Admiral Schofield and advanced to the South Region semifinal in Louisville despite blowing a 21-point lead at halftime. Jordan Bohannon led five Hawkeyes in double-figure scoring with 18, but it wasn’t enough to save Iowa’s season.
“The team you saw in the first half is what won 31 games,” Schofield said. “We have to be consistent in that aspect. But this time of year it’s about winning, about surviving and advancing.”
Tennessee looked like Phi Slama Jama in the first half. The Vols had come out tentative in their 77-70, first-round win over Colgate, but erupted like octane against the Hawkeyes. They overwhelmed the Hawkeyes (23-12) with their athleticism, speed and defensive pressure.
“We came out and played the first half like we do when we’re playing our best basketball,” said Vols head coach Rick Barnes.
It was pure domination as Tennessee did everything right. The Vols caused turnovers on defense and triggered a transition game that produced a flurry of buckets. Schofield was the catalyst. The senior guard had all 19 of his points in the first half as Tennessee roared to a 49-28 lead at the break. He was in the middle of it all, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. He scored three consecutive baskets for Tennessee, including a 3-pointer, to give the Vols a 44-19 advantage with 4:22 left in the half.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes could do nothing offensively. Center Tyler Cook, who entered averaging 14.6 points a game, and guard Joe Wieskamp (11.1) combined to shoot 0-for-9 from the field with Cook being held scoreless. Tennessee’s 21-point margin at the break seemed just the beginning of a rout.
“We had a decision to make,” Wieskamp said. “We could either fold and hand it to them. Or we could fight back.”
Iowa fought back. Cook announced Iowa’s comeback with a “we-ain’t-dead-yet” dunk, and a hard-earned layup that cut Tennessee’s lead to 51-37. Possession by possession, Iowa slowly got back in the game.
A zone defense instigated 11 second-half Tennessee turnovers and Iowa’s offense came to life behind the energy of Cook and forward Luka Garza. The Hawkeyes chipped away until they tied the game 67-67 on three consecutive free throws by Bohannon with 2:39 to play in regulation. It was game on from there.
“What I’m most proud of is how we stayed connected,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. “We stayed together because anything short of that and you’re not going to be able to come back like we did.”
After Wieskamp tied the game, 71-71, on a pair of free throws with 20.8 seconds showing, Bone missed a 3-pointer from the corner that would have won the game in regulation.
Instead the Vols needed overtime to secure the win with Williams and Bone combining for the easier-than-expected finish.
“Once it got to overtime, I thought we really responded the way we needed to,” Barnes said. “But it shouldn’t have gotten to that point.”
Schofield, who had 19 points, didn’t play in the overtime, preferring Kyle Alexander stay in the lineup for defensive purposes. Alexander would lead the Vols with nine rebounds.
“I thought it was great [showing], no selfishness on his part,” Barnes said of Schofield.
