By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Less than one hour before the tipoff of Iowa versus Rutgers in men’s basketball, the song “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie was blaring over the loudspeaker at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The song was fitting for the circumstance on Saturday since Iowa entered the game 0-3 in Big Ten play, and in much need of a win.

The Hawkeyes would go on to get that win by a score of 86-77, improving to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Iowa also started 0-3 in Big Ten play last season, but then responded by winning four games in a row and seven of nine.

That team would go on to finish 11-9 in the Big Ten and made the NCAA Tournament.

However, that team was also led by All-America junior forward Kris Murray, fifth-year senior forward Filip Rebraca and sixth-year senior guard Connor McCaffery, all of whom have moved on.

The current Iowa team was led on Saturday by junior forward Payton Sandfort, who made five 3-point baskets and finished with a season-high 24 points.

“The basket felt like the ocean so that’s always a good feeling,” Payton Sandfort said.

Asked if the players were feeling any pressure on Saturday from being 0-3 in conference play, Payton Sandfort said:

“You try not to, but that’s kind of the reality of it. You don’t want to dig yourself too big of a hole, and we did that. We struggled. We had tough start. We’ve been in this spot before. ”

With Saturday’s victory, Fran McCaffery won his 127^th Big Ten game to surpass Tom Davis for most Big Ten wins in program history.

“To be truthful, I think the most important thing was getting the team ready to play today and being a real good team and getting our first Big Ten win this year,” Fran McCaffery said. “You know Rutgers is going to keep making runs back at you.

“But you guys know me, I don’t really think too much about wins. I always kind of find it interesting; they talk about, I have this many wins. I didn’t play anybody. Iowa won those games.”

Iowa played without senior forward Patrick McCaffery, who missed the game due to an illness.

He was replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore guard Josh Dix, who finished with seven points, four assists and just one turnover.

“He wasn’t feeling good, so we decided not to go with him” Fran McCaffery said of son, Patrick McCaffery. “I felt it was a great opportunity for Josh Dix. He’s been practicing incredibly well. He’s been solid on the court.”

The Hawkeyes adjusted well to the lineup change, bolting to a 19-5 lead.

Iowa also led for nearly 18 minutes in the first half and held Rutgers senior center Cliff Omoruyi to just one made field goal and six points for the entire game.

“Especially at the defensive end, I thought we were really good,” Fran McCaffery said of the quick start. “This is a very athletic (Rutgers) team. They drive the ball. And we clearly were concerned with Cliff. He’s a handful, not only on a screen-and-roll, but on offensive rebounding situation. He’s a threat to get it and dunk it pretty much every time the shot goes.”

Iowa had four players score in double figures as graduate transfer forward Ben Kirkke finished with 19 points, while freshman center Owen Freeman and senior guard Tony Perkins both had 15 points.

Freeman also held his own on defense against Omoruyi.

“I thought we did a good job with him. I’m really proud of Owen,” Fran McCaffery said.

Fran McCaffery wasn’t proud of how his team finished the first half, however.

Rutgers hit a 3-point basket right before the halftime buzzer and closed the half with a 9-2 scoring run, cutting the deficit to 41-34 at the break.

The Scarlet Knights only shot 33.3 percent from the field in the first half, and trailed by as many as 16 points, so to only trail by seven points at halftime was encouraging from their standpoint, and a concern for Iowa.

Ben Krikke made a basket and drew a foul to give Iowa a 36-21 lead with four minutes left in the first half. He would go on to make the free throw to complete the traditional 3-point play.

But then Rutgers outscored Iowa 13-5 to close out the first half, erasing the double-digit deficit.

Iowa also committed a late turnover that helped set the stage for Rutgers to make a three in the final seconds of the first half.

“I was really disappointed at the end of the half,” Fran McCaffery said. “You get the ball back with 21 seconds, you’ve got to take the last shot. And we turned the ball over and they hit a three.”

Iowa then came out firing in the second half as Payton Sandfort made two 3-point baskets within in the first three minutes, pushing the lead back to double-digits.

“It was huge because at the end of the first half they hit a couple really tough shots and all that work we did in the first half kind of felt like it went away at the end there,” Payton Sandfort said. “But in the locker room we were talking about how we have to start fast and throw the fist punch, which we did.

“And they were making shots, too, but we just kept punching. We had everybody out there making plays.”

Rutgers started Saturday’s game by missing 14 of its first 15 shots from the field.

“When I watched it at halftime, I thought we got spectacular looks,” said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. “Layups, open threes. We didn’t make them.”

Both head coaches wore a blue ribbon near their right shoulder in honor of the victims of the shooting that occurred at Perry High School on Thursday.

A moment of silence was also held before the game.

“It’s sad. I’m praying for all the people there in Perry,” Pikiell said. “When you hear those things, I have four kids, and I was thankful they included me in their tribute today.”