So much for Northwestern running through the Big Ten undefeated. NU’s best start to conference play in over 50 years came to an unfortunate end as the No. 19 Wildcats (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) ran into an offensive juggernaut Tuesday night in Iowa City, falling 87-72 to No. 10 Iowa (8-2, 2-1).
Northwestern fared much better against the vaunted Hawkeyes than most would have predicted entering the season, as it kept things close well into the second half. But the Wildcats knew they would have to outscore Iowa if they wanted to pull off the upset, and they simply could not.