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Men's Basketball

Iowa To Play Utah State In Sioux Falls

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s basketball team will return to South Dakota for a nonconference game against Utah State on Dec. 18, 2021. The Hawkeyes and Aggies will meet at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Tickets will go on sale at a later date. Television coverage will determine a start time.

Iowa will play at the Pentagon for the third time overall and second straight season after taking on then-No. 1 Gonzaga last year. Utah State played three games on Heritage Court in 2020 during the inaugural Crossover Classic. The Pentagon has hosted 54 NCAA Division I men’s college basketball games since opening in 2013.

“Putting these matchups together and bringing in high-caliber programs like Iowa and Utah State to Sioux Falls is always a thrill for us,” said Steve Young, president of Sanford Sports. “We’re excited to welcome back the Aggies and Hawkeyes in consecutive years and especially want to thank Coach McCaffery for being a constant supporter of what we do at the Pentagon. This game promises to produce an electrifying atmosphere with the best basketball fans in the country watching these two teams play in person.”

A member of the Big Ten Conference, Iowa is coming off a 22-9 season and a third-place conference finish with a mark of 14-6. The Hawkeyes advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Oregon. Iowa led the NCAA in assists per game (19.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.02), and ranked fifth in scoring offense (83.7) in 2021. Its assist-to-turnover ratio established a new NCAA single-season record, while its scoring average was the program’s highest in 32 years. The Hawkeyes return multiple upperclassmen and a number of players with starting experience.

“We are eager to return to Sioux Falls for a third time and challenge a successful Utah State program. The community and Sanford Pentagon staff always welcome us with open arms and provide a first-class experience. This will be another great opportunity for our fans in the northern part of the state to see our team play.”

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery

First-year head coach Ryan Odom inherits a Utah State team that went 20-9 last season. Odom spent the last five seasons at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where in 2018 his team became the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when the Retrievers defeated Virginia.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to the Sanford Pentagon and excited to compete against an excellent Iowa basketball program,” said Utah State head coach Ryan Odom. “This event will be a great experience for our players and Aggie fans.”

This will be the fourth meeting between Utah State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes won the first two contests, while the Aggies won the last meeting in 2007.