On Saturday afternoon, Iowa (7 - 2, 1 - 1 Big Ten) faced a heart-wrenching defeat at the hands of Michigan (8 - 1, 2 - 0 Big Ten), with the final score being 85 - 83. After a significant early deficit, Iowa made a remarkable comeback and trailed by just three points at halftime. However, Michigan regained the lead and held a 11 - point advantage with 6:30 left in the game. But Iowa refused to give up. Thanks to a late surge and intense defensive pressure, they tied the game at 83 with 20 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, a controversial goaltending call went Michigan's way, sealing their victory. Let's delve into the key takeaways from this intense battle.

Controversial Late Goaltending Call: Michigan's Advantage

After Iowa had tied the game at 83, Michigan got the ball back with a chance to win. Guard Roddy Gayle Jr. drove past Pryce Sandfort and into the paint. His shot was initially rejected by Owen Freeman, but it was quickly called a goaltending violation. Despite a review, the call stood. Watching the replay, it was clear that the call was extremely close. This controversial call ultimately gave Michigan the lead and proved to be the game - winner.

Payton Sandfort's Struggles and Late Comeback

Senior forward Payton Sandfort had a difficult first half, missing all nine of his field goal attempts, including four from beyond the arc. But in the second half, he found his touch, connecting on 6 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 6 from 3 - point range. In the game's final 6:06, he hit a trio of 3 - pointers, including two in the final 1:42 and the game - tying trey with 20 seconds remaining. If he had connected on a few in the first half, Iowa might have won this game.

Owen Freeman's Early Foul Trouble

Against Michigan big Vlad Goldin, Iowa needed the best from Owen Freeman. However, he quickly got into trouble, picking up back - to - back fouls just over two minutes into the game and was forced to sit out until the second half. Despite finishing with 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting in just 19 minutes, his absence in the first half had a significant impact.

Drew Thelwell's Strong First Half

With Freeman in foul trouble and Sandfort struggling, Iowa needed offense. Graduate guard Drew Thelwell provided that, scoring all 10 of his points in the first half on 5 of 8 shooting. His scoring helped keep Iowa in the game during a tough period.

Pryce Sandfort's Impact

Sophomore forward Pryce Sandfort was a bright spot for Iowa. He knocked down three 3 - pointers and finished with 16 points. He also had two steals in the loss, showing his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor.

Ladji Dembele's Struggles

Sophomore big Ladji Dembele started for Iowa but had a rough game. He finished with a - 18 in the plus - minus department and was 0 for 2 shooting. Despite finishing with five rebounds, his performance was not up to par.

Michigan's Board and Paint Advantage

Michigan outrebounded Iowa 45 - 30 and won the battle in the paint 54 - 32. Freeman's absence in the first half contributed to these totals. However, Iowa did a good job taking care of the ball themselves, finishing with just four turnovers. This is an area they need to improve moving forward.

The Cy - Hawk Showdown Ahead

Next up for Iowa is a heavyweight showdown against No. 5 Iowa State. With Iowa in the early bubble conversation, a win over the Cyclones would greatly enhance their resume for NCAA Tournament selection. It will be an important test for the Hawkeyes as they look to build on their season.