Iowa's Freeman shoots down UM

Michigan forward DeShawn Sims reaches for the ball in a battle with Iowa guard Tony Freeman. Sims scored 18 points.

ANN ARBOR - Tony Freeman and Cyrus Tate were much too much for Michigan.

Freeman scored a career-high 28 and Tate had career highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds, leading Iowa to a 68-60 win over the Wolverines last night.

"Freeman was outstanding. Tate was outstanding," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "We didn't have an answer for either one of them."

Reserve guard Jeff Peterson helped both players by matching his career high with nine assists.

"He did a great job setting us up to do what we did," Tate said.

Freeman made six of 11 3-pointers to help Iowa build a big lead, and connected on six of eight free throws in the final

1:40 to keep it.

"Tony was able to get open looks for the 3," Tate said. "We really needed that, especially at the end. His free throws really helped a lot, too."

The Hawkeyes (9-10, 2-4 Big Ten) took control of the game with a 12-1 run early in the second half after leading by two at halftime and built a 52-36 with 5 1/2 minutes left.

They needed the cushion.

Michigan pulled within four with 1:22 left after Manny Harris made a four-point play following consecutive 3-pointers from DeShawn Sims and Kelvin Grady.

Iowa responded offensively to stunt the rally and Harris turned the ball over in his backcourt with 1:16 to go, hurting Michigan's comeback chance.

But Grady and Sims kept the Wolverines' hopes alive by making 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the court, pulling them within three.

The Hawkeyes, particularly Freeman, held Michigan off by making just enough free throws and doing a better job of contesting 3-point shots.

"As I expected from a John Beilein team, they kept coming at us," Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said.

"I wasn't ever comfortable. It was good that we built the lead we did."

Sims had 18 points, Jevohn Shepherd scored a career-high 11 - all in the first half - and Harris added 11 for the Wolverines (5-13, 1-5).

Michigan has its worst record after 18 games since the 1981-82 season, when it was 4-14 and 0-6 in the Big Ten.

At a school where basketball is an afterthought, it was fitting that the biggest buzz of the night was created by a football player.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor from Jeannette, Pa., regarded as the top football recruit in the country, received a warm welcome when he arrived in the first half during his official visit.

"We want Pryor!" the student section chanted when he emerged from a tunnel and walked to his seat. "We want Pryor!"