IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team defeated New Orleans, 104-57, on Sunday afternoon on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa moves to 8-3 on the season.
From the opening tip-off, the Hawkeyes set the tone with an aggressive offense and tight defense. Iowa started the game 4-of-4 from the field before making 14- of-17 field goals over the first seven minutes of the game. Iowa led New Orleans, 35-13, after the first 10 minutes of play.
The Hawkeyes hot shooting and team defense would continue the rest of the half, adding to their lead. At the break, Iowa led 57-29. Iowa was led by freshman Brock Harding with 13 points while junior Josh Dix added 10. Harding was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including five assists and zero turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
As a team, Iowa shot 21-of-31 (67.7%) from the field in the first half ,while knocking down 11-of-19 (57.9%) from deep. The Hawkeye defense held New Orleans to 12-of-36 (33.3%) shooting, including 2-of-13 (15.4%) from beyond the arc. At the end of the half, Iowa had just one turnover, while blocking seven shots.
The stellar offensive play continued in the second half with Iowa pushing its lead to 41 in the first eight minutes of the second 20. Sophomore Owen Freeman was taken out for the game with more than 11 minutes to play after tying his career high with 22 points. Freeman scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting in just over eight minutes of action in the second half.
Iowa got a great second half from its bench with the bench adding 19 points. Junior Carter Kingsbury set a career-high with six points. The Hawkeyes finished the second half shooting 21-of-36 (58.3%) from the field and just 3-of-10 (30.0%) from deep.
Freeman led Iowa with 22 while Payton Sandfort followed with 15. Harding and Dix added 13 a piece, while sophomore Pryce Sandfort rounded out the Hawkeyes in double digits with 10.
The Iowa defense held New Orleans to 25-of-67 (37.3%) shooting from the field and 4-of-24 (16.7%) from 3-point range. The Hawkeyes forced them into 15 turnovers, while blocking a season high 11 shots. Iowa was successful in the fast break where they outscored them 38-6.
The Hawkeyes shot 42-of-67 (62.7%) from the field for the game and 14-of-29 (48.3%) from deep. Iowa led for 39:12 and never lost the lead once it trailed 4-3.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“That’s who we are. That’s what we have to do with the kind of team we have. Especially when you play a smaller lineup. You can drive and kick, post feed, in and out, swing it. That puts some pressure on the defense.”
“I would say it’s a professional group. We lost a tough one. If we had won it, you have to do the same thing. You have to lock in for the next one.”
GAME NOTABLES
• The Hawkeyes reached the century mark for the second time this season – scoring 104 points.
• Iowa shot a season-high 62.7 percent (42-of-67) in the game.
• The team scored 57 points in the first half – the most in a half this season.
• Thirteen different Hawkeyes scored in the win.
• It was Iowa’s largest margin of victory since 2021 when Iowa beat Western Michigan 109 to 61.
• Iowa had five players finish in double figures: Owen Freeman 22, Payton Sandfort 15, Brock Harding 13, Josh Dix 13, Pryce Sandfort 10
• Freeman made 10-of-12 field goals (83.3 percent) to tie a career high with 22 points. His 10 field goals were a season best.
• It was his second 20-point game of the season (fourth of his career).
• He also had four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.
• Harding made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to open the game.
• He finished with 13 points, six assists and two steals. It was his seventh game with 6+ helpers.
• He either scored or assisted on seven of Iowa’s first eight field goals.
• Payton Sandfort finished with 15 points, making 5-of-8 field goals, including three 3-pointers.
• He has made 3+ 3-pointers in four straight games, six times this season and 29 times in his career.
• Freshman Cooper Koch played in his first game since Nov. 22, finishing with six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
• Sophomore Seydou Traore missed his fifth game of the season because of injury.
• Iowa finished with a season-high 28 assists on its 42 field goals.
• The team had eight assists on its first eight field goals.
• The team finished with a season-high 38 fast-break points in the victory.
• Iowa had 11 blocks in the game – a season-best. Three players had two or more blocks.
• The Hawkeyes made 8-of-10 3-point field goals to open the game and 11-of-19 in the first half.
• The 11 3s are the most the team has made in a half this season.
• The team finished with 14 3-pointers in the game – its sixth game with 10+ 3s – and the second-most in a game this season.
• Iowa made its first four field goals, including three 3-pointers to open the game and made 9-of-11 shots (six 3 pointers) over the first nine minutes and 14-of-17 field goals (9-of-12 3s) over the first 7:15.
• The Hawkeyes shot 67.7 percent (21-of-31) in the first half – a season-high percentage in a half.
• Iowa improves to 7-1 at home this season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will return to action Dec. 21, traveling to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a neutral site game against Utah. The game will begin at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon and it will be televised on BTN.
