By Hawk Fanatic

Survive and advance is the goal of every team in postseason and the Iowa men’s basketball team was able to do that against Maryland on Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament.

Iowa broke open a close game with a 21-0 scoring in the second half and then would go on to prevail 75-64 at the United Center in Chicago, snapping a three-game losing streak.

The Hawkeyes, who are seeded ninth in the tournament under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, had to overcome yet another slow start as Maryland led by as many as 11 points (21-10) in the first half.

“I thought we got comfortable, I think at the start we probably had some nerves, I would guess,” McCollum said on the NBC Sports Network post-game interview. “And then in the second half, I thought we settled in and we were able to get some stops and able to put it away pretty early. And then you’re jut hanging on towards the end there.”

Iowa improved to 21-11 and will face No. 8 seed Ohio State (20-11) in the next round at 11 a.m. on Thursday, while Maryland finished the season 12-21 under first-year head coach Buzz Williams.

Iowa defeated Ohio State 74-57 on Feb. 25 in Iowa City.

Redshirt freshman forward Cooper Koch led four Iowa players in double figures in Wednesday’s win with a career-high 19 points, including five 3-point baskets.

Wednesday’s game was the third time this season that Iowa and Maryland have faced each other. The Hawkeyes won 83-64 on Dec. 6 in Iowa City, while Maryland prevailed 77-70 on Feb. 11 in College Park, Maryland.

Editor’s note: More coverage of today’s game coming soon from John Bohnenkamp in Chicago.