If the Hawkeyes are serious about their ambitions this season, they can’t afford to make a habit of flops like Friday's.

With the contest being played on a neutral floor in Kansas City, Utah State kept things close for the first 28 minutes or so and then used a surge to take the lead partway through the second half and held on down the stretch to claim the 77-69 victory and move to 5-0 on the season.

The Iowa men’s basketball team dropped its first game of the season to Utah State on Friday, 77-69. The Hawkeyes were plagued by inconsistencies from the three-point and free throw lines, resulting in a dismal defeat.