(Sports Network) - Trevor Mbakwe scored a career-high 24 points as he led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a 62-45 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Big Ten Conference battle at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Mbakwe converted 7-of-11 shots from the floor and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line for the Golden Gophers (17-8, 6-7 Big Ten) as they snapped a four-game slide. Also scoring in double figures for Minnesota was Rodney Williams with 13 points, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.
The Hawkeyes (10-15, 3-10) were paced by Bryce Cartwright with 11 points on 3- of-7 shooting behind the three-point line. Cartwright also handed out seven assists as the team bowed for the second time in as many outings.
Iowa connected on just seven field goals in the first half and made only 4- of-14 behind the three-point line, leaving the team with a 30-20 deficit at the break.
In the second half Minnesota took control at the free-throw line with 16-of-19 accuracy to capture the 17-point win.
The Hawkeyes finished the evening shooting just 34.0 percent from the floor and 6-of-28 beyond the arc, all while turning the ball over 17 times.