IOWA CITY, Iowa — Peyton Sandfort and Filip Rebraca combined to score 20 points over the final seven minutes to allow Iowa to pull away from Northwestern for an 86-70 victory Tuesday night.
The Big Ten game originally was scheduled for Jan. 18 but was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns.
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The score was tied at 39 at halftime, and the teams took turns with the lead in the second half. Boo Buie opened the second half with a layup and a 3 to put the Wildcats up 44-39. Connor McCaffery hit a 3 and Tony Perkins added two free throws and a layup to push Iowa into a 51-48 advantage.
Buie’s three-point play with 7:38 left pulled Northwestern within three at 62-59, but Sandfort and Rebraca took over from there.
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Sandfort hit a 3 and Rebraca scored eight straight points. Sandfort hit from deep again, then added three free throws and another 3-pointer to give Iowa an 84-68 advantage with 2:35 left.
Sandfort hit a career-best 5 of 7 from 3-point range and finished with 20 points and five assists for Iowa (14-8, 6-5). Rebraca had his eighth double-double of the season, putting up 20 points with 10 rebounds. Kris Murray added 16 points and eight rebounds, Perkins had 12 points and McCaffery scored 11.
Buie led Northwestern (15-6, 6-4) with 19 points. Chase Audige scored 15.
Iowa plays host to Illinois on Saturday before visiting No. 1 Purdue on Feb. 9.
Northwestern, which had won three straight, returns home to face Michigan on Thursday.