Iowa 78, Indiana 66

Besides the big win, the best thing about tonight’s game was a funny incident that happened in our section in the second half.

The Hawks had gone cold and Indiana cut Iowa’s 19 point lead to 10. The Hawks needed a bucket and Matt Gatens provided one with a clutch three. On the next Iowa possession, Gatens launched a bomb from 25 feet and it went through, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

Many Indiana fans were in attendance and none were happy. (My dad wondered if they came in force because they assumed the Hoosiers would romp.) After Gatens’ two treys, the frustration boiled to the surface for one Indiana fan sitting in the row behind us and a few seats to my left. As Gatens brought the ball up the court on what I think was the next Iowa possession, he yelled, “Shoot it, asshole!”

There were mumbles of discontent among us Hawk fans, but no immediate reaction; no one really cared. However, after Gatens spotted up from behind the arch again and drained another three everybody sitting nearby let the Indiana fan have it. We all stood, pointed, and yelled at the him. “You asked for it, buddy!” The two seats next to me were empty so I took the opportunity to walk closer, point to him with both arms extended, and yell “YEAH!” immediately after Gatens’ shot dropped through the net. His face as red as the Indiana jersey he was wearing (he even wore the ugly, candy striped warm-up pants, too), he meekly flashed his middle finger at the court and tried his best to ignore us. The woman sitting next to him, who I can only assume was his girlfriend (also wearing red), was mortified. It was beautiful.