Iowa buckled down defensively in the second half in a victory over Minnesota in a 71-59 win. With Fran McCaffery sidelined by COVID assistant Billy Taylor was in the pilot’s seat.

The Hawkeyes trailed 38-34 at halftime.

Taylor says he challenged the Hawkeyes at halftime to pick it up defensively.

Keegan Murray had 24 points and 15 rebounds and Patrick McCaffery added 18 points as the Hawkeyes improve to 5-6 in the Big Ten.