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Hawkeyes edge Cornhuskers to open Big Ten slate

Jan 1, 2014 - 6:10 AM Iowa City, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Roy Devyn Marble recorded 15 points and eight rebounds to help 22nd-ranked Iowa win its Big Ten opener with a 67-57 decision over Nebraska at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Aaron White added 13 points and seven rebounds in the Hawkeyes' 18th consecutive victory at home, with Jarrod Uthoff contributing 11 points off the bench for Iowa (12-2, 1-0 Big Ten).

Terran Petteway amassed 20 points and 12 rebounds in a losing cause for Nebraska (8-5, 0-1), while Walter Pitchford tallied 13 points and 12 boards.

The Hawkeyes trailed 20-14 just past the midway mark of the first half after Nebraska strung together a 13-1 run capped by back-to-back baskets from Deverell Biggs, then proceeded to dominate the remainder of the period. Iowa outscored the Cornhuskers by a 12-1 margin to close out the frame, with White accounting for nine of those points and putting the Hawkeyes up 30-23 with a layup in the final minute.

Iowa slowly pulled away after the break, holding the Huskers without a field goal during an 11-2 spurt that pushed the margin to 43-29 with 13 1/2 minutes left to play. The differential swelled to 20 points with eight minutes remaining, when White followed a bucket and free throw from Uthoff with a steal and dunk to finish off a 9-0 push that made the score 55-35.

"We didn't win because of our rebounding or our 3-point shooting. We won because of our defense," Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffrey remarked.

Nebraska was able to close the gap, however, outscoring Iowa by a 12-1 count over a span of four-plus minutes and pulling within 60-55 on Petteway's 3- pointer with 1:45 to go. The Cornhuskers failed to score on their next two possessions, however, and Iowa went back up by double digits by sinking 5-of-6 foul shots.

"I thought we played pretty well," said Nebraska head coach Tim Miles. "I do not think the score was indicative at all of how we played. We just missed too many inside shots. At the same time you have to credit Iowa. They are really good, and they are really good [at home]."

Game Notes

Nebraska shot just 29.9 percent from the field for the game and was outscored by a 22-12 margin at the foul line ... Iowa prevailed in its Big Ten opener for the first time since downing Michigan State on Jan. 4, 2007 ... The Hawkeyes have won 27 in a row at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against unranked foes since a loss to Dayton in March of 2012 ... The Cornhuskers have dropped 19 straight on the road to ranked teams and are 1-16 against top-25 opponents since joining the Big Ten.