Hawkeyes Host Penn State Sunday in Home Finale

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THE SETTING
Iowa (17-13, 9-8) will play its home finale on Sunday hosting Penn State (14-16, 6-11). Tipoff is slated for 12:01 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available for $33 for adults, $20 for youth, and FREE for UI students (while tickets remain). Sunday is the only regular season contest between the two teams.
    Iowa enters Sunday’s game having won six of its last nine games, including three straight, while Penn State has lost six of eight, including four straight.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, while Bob Hansen provides expert analysis. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Greg Amsinger and Stephen Bardo will call Sunday’s contest on BTN (BTN2GO).

HAWKEYES WIN THIRD STRAIGHT, RALLY TO VICTORY AT WISCONSIN
Iowa scored the game’s final seven points in the last 3:11 to rally and upend No. 21/22 Wisconsin Thursday night at the Kohl Center. The win was just Iowa’s fourth at the Kohl Center and first triumph since 2011.
•    The victory was Iowa’s third straight victory and fourth win over a ranked opponent this season (No. 17 Purdue, No. 21 Wisconsin, No. 24 Maryland, No. 25 Iowa State).
•    Iowa had three players score in double figures, two of which accounted for all of Iowa’s bench points: Nicholas Baer (14), Jordan Bohannon (11), and Cordell Pemsl (10). Baer led the team in scoring for the second time this season (at Illinois).
•    With Iowa trailing by one point, Peter Jok attempted a 10-foot jumper that misfired with 15 seconds remaining. However, Iowa’s Cordell Pemsl corralled the offensive rebound and found an open Jordan Bohannon, who drained the game-winner 3-pointer.
•    Nicholas Baer tied a career best with four 3-pointers made, all made in the first half.
•    Freshman Jordan Bohannon became the second player in school history to register 100+ assists and 70+ 3-pointers in a single season (Jeff Horner in 2004-05 and 2005-06).
•    Wisconsin had four players score in double figures: Bronson Koenig (19), Ethan Happ (11), Zak Showalter (11), and Nigel Hayes (10).
•    Tyler Cook grabbed a game-best eight rebounds, leading the team in boards for the first eighth time this season and second straight game.
•    Iowa made more 3-pointers (9-of-19) than free throws (6-of-7). The Badgers converted only 5-of-14 (.357) from the charity stripe.
•    Iowa’s 59-57 win is its first when scoring fewer than 60 points since a 58-48 victory over Purdue on Feb. 27, 2013.

SCOUTING PENN STATE
•    Penn State enters Sunday’s game 96th in the RPI. The Nittany Lions have lost four straight games, three of which coming by ten points or less.
•    Penn State is 4-6 in road games, including a 2-6 mark in league contests away from the Bryce Jordan Center.
•    Four Nittany Lions average double figures: Tony Carr (13.4), Lamar Stephens (12.6), Shep Garner (12.2), and Payton Banks (11.0). Banks did not play in Penn State’s previous game due to illness.
•    Penn State was edged, 71-70, in its last game versus Ohio State played Tuesday evening in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Buckeyes scored the game-winning basket with three seconds remaining, eight seconds after Tony Carr drained a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to take the lead. Only eight Nittany Lions saw action, with Tony Carr (21) and Shep Garner (20) leading the way offensively. Ohio State outrebounded Penn State by nine (37-29), but the Nittany Lions made four more 3-pointers than the Buckeyes.
•    Penn State has held opponents to 69 points or less ten times this season, winning all ten of those contests.
•    Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten in steals per game (7.1) behind Iowa (7.5).
•    The Nittany Lions rank 14th in the nation in blocks per game (5.4), 52nd in free throw percentage (.740), and 70th in steals per contest (7.1). Mike Watkins ranks 13th in the country in rejections (2.6), while Josh Reaves is 14th in steals per game (2.2).
•    Patrick Chambers is in his sixth season as head coach at Penn State (86-107, .445).

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 28-15 advantage in the series versus Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won eight of the last 12 meetings. Iowa and Penn State split last season’s two meetings with each team winning on their respective home floors. The Hawkeyes won 73-49 in Iowa City, while the Nittany Lions recorded a narrow 79-75 victory in University Park.
    Iowa holds a 16-3 advantage in games played at Iowa City, with all 19 meetings taking place in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won 14 of the last 15 meetings, including the last 11, in Iowa City. Penn State’s last win (78-73) in Iowa City came in 2001. The Hawkeyes’ margin of victory in the 11 straight wins over the Nittany Lions in Iowa City is 13.7, with eight of the 11 victories coming by double digits.

LAST MEETING
Iowa was edged by Penn State, 79-75, on Feb. 17, 2016, at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania.
•    Iowa raced out to an 8-0 advantage, but the Nittany Lions found their shooting stroke. After missing its first five shot attempts, Penn State finished the half making 15 of its last 22 shots (.681). The Nittany Lions were 7-of-14 (.500) from long distance in the first half, with Shep Garner making his first four attempts after going a combined 0-of-16 from 3-point range the previous three games.
•    There were 46 personal fouls whistled in the game; Iowa was 25-of-25 (.714) from the foul line, while Penn State made 17-of-22 (.773).
•    Peter Jok and Jarrod Uthoff paced the visitors offensively, scoring 28 and 19 points, respectively. Jok was 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
•    Adam Woodbury grabbed 10 boards and netted six points. 
•    Nicholas Baer had six points, three rebounds, one assist, and a steal off the bench.
•    Three Nittany Lions posted double figures, including a career-high 19 points (8-of-9 FG, 3-of-4 FT) from reserve Donovan Jack. Brandon Taylor and Shep Garner each contributed 18 points.

JORDAN CLIMBING THE BOHANNON 3-POINT CHART
    Jordan Bohannon, who is the youngest of four brothers who played collegiate basketball, trails only his brother Matt in most 3-pointers made in a season by a Bohannon. Matt made 93 triples last year for Northern Iowa. Jordan is second, followed by Jason who sank 68 for Wisconsin during the 2009-10 season.
    Bohannon has made 71-of-181 (.392) from 3-point range this season. The percentage trails only Brady Ellingson on the team, with Ellingson attempting 120 fewer shots (31-of-61, .508). Bohannon’s 71 triples tie Peter Jok for the team lead.

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Melsahn Basabe (Greece), Anthony Clemmons (Austria), Mike Gesell (Denmark), Jarryd Cole (France), Matt Gatens (NBA D-League: Iowa Energy — injured), Devyn Marble (Italy), Gabriel Olaseni (Italy), Darius Stokes (Australia), Jarrod Uthoff (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Aaron White (Russia), and Adam Woodbury (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants).

ROOKIE FLOOR GENERAL
After having two veteran point guards graduate last spring (Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons), Jordan Bohannon has done a fantastic job directing the Hawkeye offense as a freshman. Bohannon ranks first on the team in assists (4.5) and 3-pointers made (71), second in minutes played (28.6), free throw accuracy (.857), and third in scoring (9.8). He has netted 17 or more points in six games and led the squad in assists a team-best 20 times. 
    Bohannon had a career night at No. 24 Maryland last weekend, pouring in a game and personal-best 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. The eight triples are the most by an Iowa freshman in school history and one shy of the school record. He has made 11-of-19 (.579) from long distance in Iowa’s road wins over ranked opponents No. 24 Maryland and No. 21 Wisconsin.
    Bohannon, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6, has led the squad in scoring four times.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Prior to this season, two Iowa freshmen scored 20+ points in the same game only twice in program history: Dick Ives (43) and David Danner (32) versus Chicago on Feb. 5, 1944 and Ronnie Lester (20) and Larry Olsthoorn (20) versus Michigan on Jan. 17, 1977.
    Iowa has accomplished the feat twice this season. First by rookie duos Cordell Pemsl (21) and Isaiah Moss (21) versus Stetson. Jordan Bohannon (24) and Tyler Cook (21) became the third Hawkeye duo to accomplish the feat — first do do so in a road game — in school history at Maryland (Feb. 25).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,736 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,610-1,126 (.588). Iowa’s 1,610 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,028-359 (.741) record in home games, a 578-764 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 761-765 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 433-133 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

PEMSL MAKING THE MOST OF HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS
Freshman Cordell Pemsl has had a great start to his collegiate career. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has started 14 games, while coming off the bench 16 times. In 30 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits 13 times and is averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting a Big Ten-best and 20th-best nationally 63 percent (100-of-159) from the field. He scored in double figures in eight of the 14 starts. 

NOTABLES ON PETER JOK’S HISTORIC FREE THROW NIGHT
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes versus Indiana on Feb. 21, breaks Don Nelson’s 55-year old school record. Nelson’s previous record of 21 was also set against Indiana in 1962.
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes ties for third most by a player in a single-game in Big Ten history. Indiana’s Greg Graham made 26 in 1993; Indiana’s Don Schlundt made 25 in 1955, and Indiana’s Luke Recker made 22 in 1999.
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw’s made are the second most by a player nationally in a game this season (25 by Sindarius Thornwell of South Carolina). Furthermore, the 22 makes tie Xavier Silas (2014) for the third most free throws made in a single-game since 2010 nationally. Teddy Okereafor of Rider (2014) and South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwe (2007) each made 25 in a game.
•    On Feb. 21, 2001, Iowa’s Reggie Evans attempted a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record 22 free throws versus Purdue; 16 years later — also on Feb. 21 — Peter Jok breaks the record by attempting 23 foul shots against the Hoosiers.
•    Not only did Jok’s 22 free throws made establish a new school record, but it shattered the previous Carver-Hawkeye Arena record of 16 by Adam Haluska (2007) and Reggie Evans (2001).
•    Peter Jok currently ranks first nationally in free throw percentage (.924) with a minimum of 3.0 makes per game.
•    Peter Jok is on pace to break Iowa’s and the Big Ten’s single-season free throw percentage record currently held by Matt Gatens (.904 in 2009) and Steve Alford (.921 in 1985), respectively. He is also on pace to break Iowa’s career percentage mark currently being held by Luke Recker (.873, 185-of-212). Jok’s career percentage is at 88.5 percent and he has taken 128 more free throws than Recker.

A CLOSER LOOK AT IOWA’S FRESHMEN PRODUCTION
•    Iowa’s six freshmen account for 47.4 percent of Iowa’s offense, besting Iowa’s 1943-44 freshmen who averaged 40.7 points.
•    Iowa freshmen have scored in double figures a program-best 50 times this season, besting the 1997-98 squad (42).
•    For the first time in program history, Iowa has had four freshmen score at least 20 points in a game: Tyler Cook (24 vs. Seton Hall; 21 at Maryland); Jordan Bohannon (24 at Maryland; 23 at Notre Dame); Isaiah Moss (21 vs. Stetson); Cordell Pemsl (21 vs. Stetson). 
•    For the first time in school history, Iowa has had five freshmen reach double figures in scoring in a game: Tyler Cook, Jordan Bohannon, Cordell Pemsl, Ryan Kriener, and Isaiah Moss.
•    Iowa freshmen have accumulated 84 combined starts this season, which is the most in program history.
•    Iowa rookies this season combine to average 15 rebounds per game, second behind the 2000-01 squad (16.3 rpg).

JOK NAMED FINALIST FOR JERRY WEST, SENIOR CLASS AWARDS
Peter Jok is one of ten finalists for both the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and Senior CLASS Award. 
    The Jerry West Award recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball, while the Senior CLASS Award recognizes an individual with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
    Jok is the Big Ten leading scorer, averaging 20.1 points per game. He has scored 25 points or more ten times this season, including a career-best 42 against Memphis (Nov. 26). In addition to leading the Big Ten in scoring, he is first nationally (min. 3.0 made per game) in free throw accuracy (.924) and third in 3-pointers made per game (2.5).
    Jok and his teammates have assisted each spring in the “Iowa Day of Caring” and is on pace to graduate this spring.

PETER JOK SCORCHING THE NETS
    Peter Jok was named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team, while also being named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Naismith Trophy and John Wooden Award watch lists, and a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. Jok scorched the nets for 42 points against Memphis and 33 against Omaha on Dec. 3. Jok nearly had a triple-double against Stetson (15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and a double-double against No. 25/25 Iowa State (23 points and nine rebounds).
    Jok has been recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season (Nov. 21 and Dec. 12). He averaged 28.5 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists against Seton Hall and UTRGV for the Nov. 21 award. Jok averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in contests versus Stetson and No. 25 Iowa State for the Dec. 12 distinction.
    Jok has had free throw streaks of 28, 27, 26, and 25 the last two seasons. The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993). His current active streak is at 15 straight.
    Jok ranks 35th nationally in points per game (20.1), first in free throw accuracy (.924), and 88th in 3-pointers made per contest (2.5). His 20.1 scoring average is fifth among players from Power 5 conferences. Jok has scored 25 points or more ten times this year, which ties for 13th nationally.
    Jok is the first Hawkeye with five 30-point games in a season since Adam Haluska (5) in 2006-07.
    Jok has made 203 career 3-pointers, which are the sixth most in program history. He is ten triples from surpassing Adam Haluska (2005-07) for fifth place with 212.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•    Iowa is 4-1 in regular season finales under Fran McCaffery, winning the last two.
•    Iowa was 4-1 in Big Ten rematch games this season. The Hawkeyes beat Rutgers, Purdue, Nebraska, and Maryland, but lost to Illinois.
•    Iowa sank 16 3-pointers in its 83-69 win at Maryland (Feb. 25), which are the most by a Hawkeye team in a Big Ten game in school history. The Hawkeyes are only one of four teams to make 16 triples in a road game against a ranked opponent this season.
•    Iowa made 39 free throws against Indiana, a total that ties for third most in a single-game in program history (39 versus Minnesota on Jan. 13, 1993).
•    Iowa is 63-12 when scoring 80 points or more, the last seven seasons. The Hawkeyes are 65-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last seven years.
•    Iowa has scored 90 points or more seven times this season.
•    Peter Jok scored 15 of Iowa’s 21 overtime points in Iowa’s win over Indiana (Feb. 21). The 15-point effort on overtime was only two points short of the NCAA record for scoring in any OT period. The record of 17 was achieved twice before (Ron Howard of Howard in 2003 and David Hawkins of Temple in 2004).
•    Ryan Kriener became the 10th different Hawkeye to have reached double figures in a game this season after netting 14 at Northwestern (Jan. 15).
•    Iowa has had four players earn weekly praise by the Big Ten. Peter Jok was named Player of the Week on Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, Isaiah Moss was tabbed Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12, while Jordan Bohannon was Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6.
•    Peter Jok totaled 29 points, six rebounds, and a career-best eight assists vs. No. 17/19 Purdue (Jan. 12). Jok became just the third Big Ten player with at least 29 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in a game versus a ranked foe in the last 20 years (Minnesota’s Nate Mason in 2017 and Denzel Valentine of Michigan State in 2016). Additionally, he is the first Hawkeye to post those numbers in any game since Adam Haluska had 31 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds vs. Coppin State in 2006.
•    Peter Jok poured in 42 points against Memphis on Nov. 26. The 42 points are the most by a Hawkeye in 40 years and tie for the fourth most in a single-game in program history, tying Bruce King’s 42 points against Pittsburgh in 1976.
•    Jordan Bohannon sank 8-of-10 (80 percent) from 3-point territory in Iowa’s win at Maryland. The eight triples are the most by a freshman in a single game in Iowa history and one shy of the single-game school record.
•    Jordan Bohannon was 7-of-15 from long distance at Notre Dame; the 15 attempts tied Justin Jackson for the second most 3-point attempts in a single-game in Iowa history.
•    Peter Jok tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record against Omaha, making all 12 free throw attempts. The perfect 12-of-12 mark tied Luke Recker (2001 vs. Kansas State), Val Barnes (1992 vs. Ohio State), and Roy Marble (1988 vs. Northern Iowa).
•    Iowa played in back-to-back overtime games (Michigan and Nebraska) for the first time since Dec. 25 and Dec. 27, 1984.
•    Iowa surpassed the century mark for the 97th time in program history with a 116-84 win over Savannah State on Nov. 13. The 116 points equal the seventh most points in a game in school history and are the most points by a Big Ten team this season.
•    Iowa posted school records in 3-pointers made (18) and attempted (43) in its victory over Savannah State (Nov. 13).
•    Iowa’s 14-point win at Maryland (Feb. 25) equaled the Terrapins’ largest margin of defeat at home this season (73-59 home loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 29, 2016).
•    Iowa made all 13 of its free throw attempts at No. 15 Purdue on Dec. 28. The last time a Hawkeye team made all of its free throws (min. 10 attempts) was at Virginia (15-of-15) in the NIT quarterfinals on March 27, 2013.
•    Peter Jok joined Reggie Evans (twice) and Aaron Fuller as the only Hawkeyes to post 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a single game the last 20 years. Jok totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds against Seton Hall (Nov. 17). His efforts earned the team captain Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 21.
•    Peter Jok scored 27 points in Iowa’s opener versus Kennesaw State. The 27 points are the most by a Hawkeye in an opener since Adam Haluska had 29 vs. The Citadel in 2006. 
•    Freshman Tyler Cook (10) joined Aaron White as the only two players to grab 10 or more rebounds in their first game as a Hawkeye in the past 20 years.
•    The 183 points in the Iowa-Nebraska double overtime game on Jan. 5 are the most points scored in the 28-game series history.
•    Iowa has won 44 of its last 47 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•    Iowa has competed in postseason play the last five years (NCAA 2014-16; NIT 2012-13).
•    Iowa has won 20 or more games in four straight seasons – its longest streak in 15 years.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAER
Sophomore Nicholas Baer is a candidate for Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. He is the only reserve in the Big Ten with 200+ points, 175+ rebounds, 35+ blocked shots, and 40+ steals this season. Baer is the only Division I player to amass 200+ points, 35+ blocked shots, 40+ steals, and 35+ 3-pointers made.
    Baer ranks first on the squad in blocks (1.3) and steals (1.4), second in rebounding (5.9), and is third in assists (1.9). 
    Baer’s 39 blocked shots currently ranks third best in a single-season by an Iowa sophomore, one rejection behind Erek Hansen (40) for second.
    Baer is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in steals (1.3) and is tied for tenth in blocked shots (1.4). The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, has led the team in steals a team-best 11 times this year, being credited with three steals or more in a game a team-best seven times.
    Baer posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa (Dec. 17), with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. 

NICHOLAS BAER PLAYED OVERSEAS IN AUGUST
Nicholas Baer averaged 8.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and two steals in four games (3-1) overseas on the USA East Coast All-Star Team.
    This marked the sixth consecutive year that a Hawkeye traveled overseas with the USA East Coast basketball team. In 2011, Matt Gatens and Bryce Cartwright traveled overseas; Zach McCabe went in 2012; Jarrod Uthoff was on the roster in 2013; Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury competed in 2014; while Dom Uhl traveled with the team in 2015.

HAWKEYES IN OVERTIME
The Hawkeyes have played four overtime games this season (Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana), two of which were in double overtime (Nebraska, Minnesota); it marks the first time since the 2013-14 season (Xavier, Villanova, Michigan State, and Tennessee)
    Iowa is 2-2 in overtime games, winning two in a season for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

HAWKEYES SWEPT BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Peter Jok and Isaiah Moss were named Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, on Dec. 12. It marked the first time Iowa swept the weekly men’s basketball accolades (weekly freshman honors began in 2010).
    Jok collected the third Big Ten weekly honor of his career and second this season. Jok helped lead the Hawkeyes to a pair of victories over Stetson (95-68) and No. 25 Iowa State (78-64). He averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in the two contests. 
    In Iowa’s upset over 25th-ranked Iowa State, Jok lead all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and nine rebounds. Against Stetson, the team captain flirted with a triple-double recording 15 points, eight rebounds, and dishing out a career-high seven assists without committing a turnover.
    Moss (6-5, 205 pounds) earned his first conference weekly recognition after averaging 17.5 points and five rebounds in Iowa’s two victories. The native of Chicago scored nine of his 14 points in the second half to help Iowa upend the 25th-ranked Cyclones. 
    Moss tallied personal bests in scoring (21), steals (2), and rebounds (6) in the Hawkeyes’ triumph over Stetson. The shooting guard shot at a 50 percent clip from 3-point range in the two games (6-of-12), including going 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from long distance against the Hatters.

BAER NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Nicholas Baer is a nominee for the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. 
    This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.
    College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism.