Hawkeyes Torch Iowa State, 75-56, for McCaffrey’s 500th Career Win

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team trounced No. 20 Iowa State, 75-56, before a raucous crowd on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes improved to 7-2 on Thursday night with the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Game victory, as Head Coach Fran McCaffery earned his 500th career win.

The Hawkeyes came out firing on all cylinders, rocketing to a 10-0 start before the first media timeout, capped by a 3-pointer by junior Tony Perkins.

Graduate student Connor McCaffery extended the lead out of the break with a step back three on an assist from brother Patrick McCaffery, and the score would be 15-0 before the first Cyclone basket of the contest on a second-chance opportunity.

Iowa’s first half lead reached as high as a 23-point margin off a Patrick McCaffery three from the midcourt logo, and the Hawkeyes headed into the locker room up, 40-20.

A fast break score from Perkins to Patrick McCaffery made the score 50-25 with 17:43 left in regulation, and a ferocious Perkins dunk with 12 minutes to play put Iowa up 26 and brought down the house.

Iowa led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

Fifth-year  Filip Rebrača was the game’s leading scorer, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks for his third double-double of the season. Rebraca had a game-best +/- 22 against the Cyclones, shooting 9-of-11 (.818) from the floor, including 2-of-2 from behind the arc.

The McCaffery brothers were the next-leading Iowa scorers. Connor McCaffery posted 14 points, including 8-of-8 free throw shooting and a pair of impactful first half 3-pointers. He also recorded four assists, three rebounds and two steals in his first start of the season. Patrick McCaffrey finished with 13 points and a game-high three triples on 5-of-8 (.625) shooting from the floor.

Perkins made his presence felt up and down the floor finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Junior  Ahron Ulis registered eight points and seven rebounds.

The Hawkeyes shot 24-of-48 (50 percent) from the floor on Thursday night, including 12-of-23 (.522) from behind the arc. Iowa won on the glass, 35-29, and scored 20 points off turnovers while holding the Cyclones to 3-of-22 (14 percent) 3-point shooting.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“I think we have a special group. They are very competitive. They were not pleased with how we played the other night. They took responsibility. They were locked in for practice yesterday. They didn’t get to bed until 5 a.m. [following Tuesday’s Jimmy V Classic game against Duke at Madison Square Garden]. We gained an hour coming back. We didn’t talk about it, we just prepared for the next one. We respect Iowa State, a ranked opponent. They have some really impressive victories, and they are playing at a high level. We knew we would have top play that way to beat them. It all starts with defense. We set the tone defensively, and that obviously helps you offense get going. We settled in, and we had a lot of different guys contributing…

I don’t really get excited about [my total] wins. I don’t consider myself having 500 wins. I am the coach. My responsibility is to put our guys in a position to win and let them go win the game. I have been blessed. I’ve worked for great people. I’ve had tremendous coaches on my staff. I have had really great players everywhere I have been. So, it does make you think a little bit about that. Two of them are in the locker room [tonight]. Mike Gesell was in the locker room, so that makes you think. With two boys playing well, you think about family. I couldn’t be sitting here without the tremendous commitment of my wife, my daughter, who was right there with us, or my son, Jack. It is an interesting journey. It is a difficult journey at times, but it is something we are built for. I was really excited for them tonight, and now we get ready for Sunday.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

• Tonight was Fran McCaffery’s 500th victory as a head coach.
• Iowa has won five of the last seven meetings against the Cyclones, include four straight at home.
• Senior Filip Rebraca notched his third double-double of the season and 22nd of his career, totaling a game and season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds.
• Senior Connor McCaffery netted a season-high 14 points, while junior Ahron Ulis cleared a personal-best seven rebounds.
• Iowa’s leading scorer (19.4) and rebounder (10.1), Kris Murray, did not play tonight due to injury.
• Iowa scored the first 15 points and outscored Iowa State 20-2 to start the game. The Hawkeyes held the Cyclones scoreless the first six minutes.
• Iowa made 10 3-pointers before the Cyclones made their first (15:16 – 2nd half). Iowa started each half making its first two 3-point attempts. All five Iowa starters made multiple triples, including Filip Rebraca equaling a career high with two.
• The Hawkeyes finished the game making 12 three-pointers (nine more than Iowa State). Iowa has made nine or more triples in all five home games this season.
• Iowa improved to 5-0 at home this season.
• The Hawkeyes improved to 93-3 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points the last 12 years.
• Iowa has now won 82 of its last 87 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Tonight was Iowa’s second consecutive game against a ranked opponent.
• Today was Iowa’s fifth straight game against a team from a Power 5 conference, dating back to Nov. 25.
• Iowa State leads the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series after tonight’s result: 11-6

UP NEXT
Iowa (7-2, 0-0) will play its Big Ten opener on Sunday against Wisconsin (7-2, 1-0). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.