Iowa smokes the water out of Marquette

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Midway through halftime, Marquette's pep band opened up a rendition of 'Smoke on the Water.' Then, the band promptly stopped after the intro, as if it realized the song symbolized the first half.

There was smoke all right at the Bradley Center Thursday night with the scorching defense and sizzling offense from the Iowa men's basketball team. The Hawkeyes turned an even match-up on paper into a laugher just minutes into their inaugural Gavitt Games game with the Golden Eagles. Iowa stormed to to a doubled-digit lead less than six minutes into the game, led by as many as 35 points and rolled to an 89-61 victory.

The Hawkeyes (3-0) clamped down on Marquette's young and talented post tandem of Luke Fischer and Henry Ellenson from the start. Iowa's guards attacked Marquette's counterparts and left open the Eagles' 3-point shooters. The strategy could not have worked any better in the first half.

Ellenson, a five-star freshman forward, was held to two points on 1-of-6 shooting. Fischer, the center, scored two points but had three fouls. Iowa's backcourt was active in the passing lanes, collecting seven steals and forcing 12 turnovers. While Marquette had open shooters, it failed to convert. The Golden Eagles missed their first 10 3-point attempts and finished just 2 of 19 in the first half.

Conversely, Iowa's offense was ruthlessly efficient. The Hawkeyes hit half their shots and dished 14 assists on 19 field goals. Iowa had only two first-half turnovers and knocked down seven 3-pointers. At one point, Iowa guard Peter Jok had outscored the Golden Eagles 11-10.

Jok wasn't the only player competing at a high level in the first half. Center Adam Woodbury scored eight points, but also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals without a turnover in 14 minutes. Guard Anthony Clemmons had nine points, four assists and two steals. Point guard Mike Gesell hit all three of his shots, dished three assists and grabbed three steals without a turnover.

Marquette made its initial run to start the second half. Iowa committed turnovers on its first three possessions, and the Golden Eagles stormed to an 8-0 run. Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery called timeout, and the Hawkeyes rallied with a 9-1 run to end the threat.

Jok returned from an injured ankle to score a career-high 20 points. Iowa had six players in double figures, including Jarrod Uthoff with 15 points. Both Clemmons (seven assists) and Gesell (four assists) scored 11, while Woodbury and Dominque Uhl each added 10. Uhl hit all four of his shots from the field.

The Hawkeyes are off until Thanksgiving night when they battle Dayton at the Advocare Invitational in Orlando. It was the worst home defeat for Marquette (1-2) since 1991.

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