Iowa and Clemson square off for the first time in three decades when the Tigers travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Tuesday night.
Iowa has struggled in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, going 2-8. That includes a 76-73 loss at Wake Forest last season. The Tigers are 8-4 all-time in the Challenge. Iowa has won both previous meetings, 74-64 in 1962 and 80-68 in 1981.
After losing back-to-back home games to in-state rivals Charleston and Coastal Carolina, the Tigers (3-2) bounced back with a 59-49 win over nearby Furman on Friday.
Junior forward Milton Jennings broke out of his shell with 22 points and 14 rebounds – both career highs – against Furman. Jennings (12.4 points) is one of three starters averaging double figures along with guard Andre Young (14.4) and forward Devin Booker (10.6). But the Tigers’ strength is their defense, which limits opponents to 55 points per game. Clemson has won 11 of its past 12 non-conference road games.
The Hawkeyes (4-2) are coming off an 82-72 home victory over IPFW on Saturday in which they shot a season-high 54.9 percent from the field and had four players in double figures. Senior guard Matt Gatens led the Hawkeyes with 22 points and has scored in double digits in five straight games, including more than 20 twice.
The Hawkeyes can put up the points – they rank 37th in the nation with 80.2 points per game, but they’ve had trouble stopping people. Their 69.7 points allowed per game rank 226th in the nation.
TV: 9:15 p.m., ESPNU
