Payton Sandfort, Iowa storm back to upend Washington

Field Level Media|published: Sat 22nd February, 18:57 2025

Feb 22, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Josh Dix (4) shoots the ball as Washington Huskies forward Great Osobor (1) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Payton Sandfort scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Iowa rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat Washington 85-79 in a Big Ten Conference game Saturday in Iowa City.

Josh Dix added 15 points and Brock Harding had 11 points and five assists for the Hawkeyes (15-12, 6-10 Big Ten), who won for just the third time in their past 11 games and bolstered their bid to make the conference tournament.

Mekhi Mason scored 19 points and DJ Davis added 17, making five 3-pointers, for the Huskies (13-14, 4-12). Great Osobor had 15 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in the closing seconds.

Washington would've moved into playoff positioning with a victory but instead dropped into last place in the 18-team conference. The top 15 teams will compete in the Big Ten tourney next month in Indianapolis.

The Hawkeyes tied the score at 48-all with 13:18 remaining as Harding made a 3-pointer from the right corner after picking up a loose ball with the shot clock winding down. That was the first tie since it was 0-0.

Sandfort tied it at 56, banking in a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, then was fouled while attempting a trey with 8:51 left and made all three free throws to give Iowa its first lead.

Mason scored seven straight Washington points to tie it at 66-all with 5:59 left.

A layup by reserve Riley Mulvey, who scored all nine of his points after the intermission, gave the Hawkeyes the lead for good with 5:19 left. Iowa's bench outscored Washington's 36-20.

Iowa closed the first half with an 8-0 run to pull within 34-33.

Washington scored nine of the game's first 11 points and took its largest lead at 21-9 on Davis' 3-pointer with 11:39 left in the half.

The Sandfort brothers -- Payton and Pryce -- kept the Hawkeyes in the game, scoring all the points in an 11-3 run.

Washington pushed its lead back to double digits before a three-point play by Even Brauns sparked Iowa's late rally.

Zoom Diallo made two free throws and a turnaround jumper in the lane as the Huskies opened the second half with an 8-0 run of their own.

--Field Level Media

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