IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s scorers often get the attention, but it’s the fifth-ranked Hawkeyes’ aggressive and trapping defense that is making the difference this season.

And Iowa is converting turnovers and missed shots — and sometimes even made baskets — into quick and easy points on the other end.

Jarrod Uthoff scored 14 points and Adam Woodbury had a career-high 15 rebounds to help Iowa roll past Penn State 73-49 on Wednesday night.

The Hawkeyes forced only 10 turnovers, but held Penn State to 30 percent shooting. The 49 points are a season-low for an Iowa opponent this season.

“Right from the outset, our defense set the tone,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “We got stops, we got run-outs. I thought we really were locked into throwing it ahead and attacking in transition.”

Peter Jok scored 12 points and Anthony Clemmons had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Hawkeyes (18-4, 9-1 Big Ten), who won their 15th straight home game.

Brandon Taylor had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Penn State (11-12, 2-8). Taylor shot 6 of 18 from the field.

The Nittany Lions never settled down in their first visit to Iowa City in three years.

Penn State opened the game shooting 3 of 16 from the field. The Nittany Lions — one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the Big Ten — made only one 3 in 20 attempts.

“We got into their space and made everything difficult for them,” said Uthoff.

Iowa won to stay even with Indiana on top of the Big Ten standings.