Iowa Iowa/Minnesota Minnesota Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

The extra work paid off during the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes' 87-74 victory Wednesday night over the Minnesota Gophers. They shot a season-high 53.1 percent (26-of-49) and made 26 of 35 free throws.

The Hawkeyes gathered on their own for extra shooting every evening since their 70-69 loss to Michigan last Saturday.

"We've shot on our own before, but we haven't had to tell everyone to come in," said point guard Dean Oliver, who scored 15 points. "That's not understanding how to win. We didn't know how to deal with success."

Reggie Evans, who is 6-foot-8 and weighs 245 pounds, benefited the most from the extra work _ and his advantage over the Gophers' smallish front line _ by scoring 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Evans, the nation's second-leading rebounder at 12.3 per game, also grabbed 10 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season.

"Reggie Evans is someone we just didn't match up with very well," Gophers coach Dan Monson said. "I don't think you have to be (Iowa coach) Steve Alford to figure that out. I mean, he's a man. He's a load in there."

Evans capped off the evening with a shot he said he hasn't been practicing _ his first 3-pointer of the season.

"I'm not going to shoot it any more, either," Evans said. "Now I'm 100 percent, leading the country."

Luke Recker added 17 points for Iowa (15-4, 4-2 Big Ten), while Oliver had 15. The Gophers (15-4, 3-3) were led by J.B. Bickerstaff and Terrance Simmons, who scored 15 points apiece.

The Hawkeyes also outrebounded the Gophers 39-25.

"If they play well and we play well, we have problems," Monson said. "We haven't lost all year; we've been beaten four times. I don't think any of them were because of a lack of effort."

The Gophers, who overcame a 13-point deficit with 3:18 remaining to beat Indiana last Saturday, twice cut large Iowa leads to single digits. Oliver said Hawkeyes watched film of the Minnesota-Indiana game and were well aware of what could happen when they were leading by 12 points with 3:36 remaining.

"I think our guys did a good job withstanding every run Minnesota threw at us," Alford said.

Minnesota, which trailed by 19 points in the second half, cut the lead to 79-70 with 1:49 remaining.

The Gophers also rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the first half by scoring eight straight points, pulling within 41-34. However, Evans was intentionally fouled by Bickerstaff on a breakaway layup and made both free throws, and Ryan Hogan made a field goal on the ensuing possession for a 45-34 lead. The Hawkeyes led 47-36 at halftime.

"You can't count on making comebacks in the last five minutes every night," Bickerstaff said. "Not every night are you going to get the opportunities and breaks we got against Indiana."

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Iowa Clubhouse

Minnesota Clubhouse

AUDIO/VIDEO
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Iowa's Reggie Evans clears the lane with the powerful jam.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

Iowa's Luke Recker avoids turning the ball over and nails the jumper.
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Minnesota's John-Blair Bickerstaff hits Dusty Rychart with the precision pass for the bucket.
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Minnesota's Terrance Simmons pushes the ball up the court and finds John-Blair Bickersttaff for the jam.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1