IOWA CITY, Iowa – Eleven Hawkeyes scored as the University of Iowa men’s basketball team flew to a 106-73 win over Longwood in its season opener Tuesday night on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first three minutes and didn’t look back. Junior Joe Toussaint knocked down a 3-pointer off an assist from redshirt senior Jordan Bohannon to put Iowa up 20-3.
Sophomore Keegan Murray led Iowa with 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting with 22 points coming in the first half. Iowa cruised to a 56-29 lead at the break. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and had seven rebounds and five blocks on the night.
Brother Kris Murray posted a career best 16 points of his own, along with seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist and a steal.
Bohannon finished with 18 points, all of which came from behind the 3-point arc and Patrick McCaffery finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists on the night.
Seven of Toussaint’s nine points came in the first half, and the Bronx native finished with a game-best four steals.
The Hawkeyes shot 55.4 percent, which included a 45.5 percentage from lone range en route to their 106 points. Iowa knocked down 15 threes on the night with Bohannon making 6-of-8 attempts.
Iowa held Longwood to a 35.1 field goal percentage and the Hawkeyes had 43 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass.
QUOTING COACH MCCAFFERY
“I thought our first group, defensively, really set the tone. We scored the ball, but when you get up 20 that quickly, it’s usually a reflection of your defense. I was impressed with that group defensively.
“Keegan has been pretty consistent. Shooting it, driving it, protecting the rim in traffic, rebounds. Defensively, I think he has been really good. He had five blocks. He uses his length well. He does it all with seemingly no fanfare, no emotion. He’s concentrating out there. He is thinking. Sometimes I have to tell him to just relax and go hoop, because that is when he is at his best.”
OF NOTE…
- Iowa has won 11 straight season openers, dating back to the 2011-12 season.
- Sophomore forward Keegan Murray posted career bests in scoring (24) and 3-pointers made (3) tonight. He reached double figures in the first seven minutes of the game.
- Jordan Bohannon made six 3-pointers. He has made 370 triples; he is four shy of the Big Ten all-time record held by Ohio State’s Jon Diebler (2008-11).
- Four different Hawkeyes made multiple 3-pointers. Collectively, Iowa made 15 triples tonight. The Hawkeyes made five of their first six attempts from distance.
- Iowa scored the first nine points of the game and 23 of the first 26 points.
- The Hawkeyes had three scoring runs of 10-0 or more (10, 11, and 14).
- Iowa outscored Longwood, 22-2, in fast break points.
- Iowa has won 71 of its last 76 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
UP NEXT
Iowa (1-0) returns to action Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, hosting Kansas City (0-1) at 7:01 p.m. (CT). Tickets are available at hawkeyesports.com.