Matt Gatens scored eight of his 16 points during a 4-minute stretch when Iowa broke open the game and the Hawkeyes went on to defeat Nebraska 62-53 on Wednesday night.
Iowa (16-14, 8-9 Big Ten) has won five of its last eight games. A home victory over Northwestern on Saturday would give the Hawkeyes a .500 conference record for the first time in five years.
Nebraska (12-16, 4-13), which ends the regular season Saturday at Minnesota, has lost seven of eight.
After Gatens hit a 3-pointer, Caleb Walker charged up the crowd when he stormed the baseline for a dunk to pull the Cornhuskers within 34-32.
But Roy Devyn Marble scored his first basket of the night on a jumper to start a 15-3 Iowa burst. He and Bryce Cartwright had 11 points apiece.
Brandon Ubel led the Huskers with a career-high 17 points, and Walker added 15.
