By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

INDIANAPOLIS — Drew Thelwell’s right ankle was wrapped in a bag of ice after Iowa’s 77-70 win over Ohio State in Wednesday’s first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

It’s the only way Thelwell can make sure to stay available for what are the final games of his college career.

“You don’t really truly hurt after a win,” Thelwell said, smiling. “It’s just a good feeling. We’re on to the next one.”

It’s been a painful end for Thelwell, who transferred to Iowa from Morehead State in the offseason to get a chance to play at a higher level of basketball. Thelwell injured the ankle in the February 8 game against Wisconsin and has been plagued by the injury since. He aggravated the injury in last Thursday’s home loss to Michigan State and was questionable for the regular-season finale at Nebraska, but played 16 1/2 minutes in the 83-68 win.

He started Wednesday’s game, playing almost 26 minutes, scoring five points while adding three assists.

All of Thelwell’s points came in the first half. His layup with 7:42 left tied the game at 21, then his 3-pointer with 4:37 to play in the half gave Iowa a 29-28 lead.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking, knowing that it’s my last go-around,” Thelwell said. “Just trying to take everything in. I’m still trying to play through some injuries and here and there, so it’s kind of bit of everything for me.”

DEFENSE PREVAILS: Iowa struggled to make shots early, going scoreless for almost the first six minutes, but the Hawkeyes were helped by holding Ohio State to just 1 of 10 shooting to start the game.

“I think the best part was we didn’t score for the first like four minutes, and we held them to three points as well,” guard Brock Harding said. “I think when we were sitting on the bench, I think I told Carter (Kingsbury), I said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna win this game. We’re playing defense like this. We’re gonna make shots eventually. Shots are gonna go.’ Shots eventually did go. They always do for this team.”

The Hawkeyes never let up on the Buckeyes. Ohio State shot 42.8% for the game, but went 0 of 8 in 3-pointers in the second half. It was an effort that coach Fran McCaffery called, “Probably as good a defense as we’ve played all year long.”

“We weren’t scoring at first,” guard Josh Dix said. “Usually when we’re not scoring, sometimes in the past, we’ve let up big runs. Tonight, we kind of just defended and let our offense come as a game went on.”

CONNOR’S NEW HOME: While McCaffery is coaching his team here in Indianapolis, his son Connor is an assistant coach with Butler, which beat Providence 75-69 in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

Connor McCaffery has lived in Indianapolis since joining the NBA’s Indiana Pacers as an analyst before going to work at Butler, a campus that is just eight miles from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“I felt like he was going in that direction,” Fran McCaffery said of his son’s career in coaching. “We prepared him to have options, as most parents do. He was academic All-Big Ten five times. He was a finance major, double major in political science. I wanted him to have the option to do it if he wanted to do it.”

“I’m thrilled for him. He’s loving it. He’s learning a lot, and he’s grinding like you have to, especially early in your career.”

Photo: Iowa’s Drew Thelwell drives to the basket during Wednesday’s game. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)