Sports

Marble scores 21 points and No. 20 Iowa holds off Purdue 83-76

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Iowa guard Roy Devyn Marble (4) is double-teamed by Purdue guard Rapheal Davis, right, and guard Ronnie Johnson, behind Marble, during the first half of a Big Ten NCAA college basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jim Slosiarek) (The Associated Press)

Iowa center Gabriel Olaseni dunks during the first half of the Big Ten Conference NCAA men's basketball game against Purdue at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jim Slosiarek) (The Associated Press)

Roy Devyn Marble scored 21 points and No. 20 Iowa snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Purdue 83-76 on Sunday.

Aaron White and Mike Gesell added 15 points each for the Hawkeyes (20-9, 9-7 Big Ten), who have recorded consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in eight years.

Iowa blew a 13-point halftime lead, but an 8-0 run put the Hawkeyes back ahead 68-64 with 5:56 left. Gesell then hit five free throws in the final 41 seconds to help the Hawkeyes narrowly avoid losing their fourth home game in five tries.

Rapheal Davis scored a career-high 18 points and A.J. Hammons had 16 points with 14 rebounds for Purdue (15-14, 5-11), which is on its second four-game losing streak in conference play.