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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Sophomore Joe Wieskamp and junior Luka Garza combined for 44 points to lead the University of Iowa men’s basketball team to a 72-52 rout of Minnesota on Monday night on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
It was Iowa’s sixth win in the last seven meeting against the Gophers in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes improve to 7-3 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes led 37-29 at the half before dominating the final 20 minutes. Iowa limited Minnesota to 23 second-half points and held the Gophers to a seven-plus minute drought late in the second half. The Gophers made 10 field goals in the second half and shot just 36.8 percent for the game.
Wieskamp matched his season-high with a 16-point first half before finishing with 23 points. He made 8-of-15 field goals with a season-high five 3-pointers. It was his fifth career 20-point game.
“It wasn’t my best performance at Michigan,” said Wieskamp. “I watched a lot of tape on things I could improve on both offensively and defensively. I tried to come out and be aggressive from the get-go and if I got an open shot I was going to take it.”
Wieskamp made his first two shots of the game — both 3-pointers.
After a slow start, Garza scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half and he grabbed 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Redshirt freshman CJ Fredrick added 10 points.
The Hawkeyes shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) for the game and assisted on 20 of their 26 field goals. Senior Jordan Bohannon had 10 assists without a turnover, his most assists since 2017 against Minnesota. It was his seventh career 10 assist game.
“(Jordan) really competed,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “He understood what we wanted to get on offense, whether we were going to get something in transition, whether we were in motion, whether we were running a set, where are we going with the ball, if the set breaks down what have we got.”
Iowa opened up a 17-point lead four minutes into the second half before Minnesota tried to fight back. Daniel Oturu’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 55-45 with 10:44 left before Wieskamp provided the highlight of the night.
Tre’ Williams pulled up for a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but Wieskamp got a hand on the attempt for the block, corralled the rebound, and drove the length of the court for a two-handed slam.
“I knew he was going to shoot it, he’s a 3-point shooter,” said Wieskamp. “I blocked it and I got blocked a couple times taking it to the rim, so I knew I wanted to go up strong. I kind of lost grip of the rim a little bit and hung on for dear life.”
Iowa led 62-50 before the Gophers endured their seven-plus minute drought.
1,000 X 500
Bohannon’s 10 assists pushed him over the 500 assist mark for his Hawkeye career. He is the sixth player in school history to join the 1,000 point/500-assist club.
How ‘Bout the D?
The Hawkeyes limited Minnesota to 52 points, the fewest in the series since 2007 (49). The 52 points are the fewest Iowa has allowed this season and it is the second time in three games Iowa’s defense has allowed a point total in the 50’s (54 at Syracuse). It came on the heels of giving up 103 at Michigan.
“We guarded ball screens a lot better,” said McCaffery. “We closed out better. We picked guys up in transition. (Daniel) Oturu is a handful, so you have to make a decision, are you doubling, when are you doubling, who are you doubling off of, because now you’re going to leave (Payton) Willis or (Gabe) Kalscheur, (Marcus) Carr. I mean, those guys have been playing really well and they were like 3-29.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Thursday, traveling to Ames, Iowa, for an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup at Iowa State. Game time is set for 7 p.m. from Hilton Coliseum.
