Hawkeyes beat UMKC, have lost Jones for the season

IOWA CITY — The Iowa men's basketball team got a huge boost from its bench on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes had an uneven performance overall in a 95-75 victory against University of Missouri Kansas City, but after a couple stern timeout talks from Coach Fran McCaffery, it was those off the bench who carried Iowa as much as the stars who normally grab the headlines.

Dom Uhl's first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Nicholas Baer's 14 points and Ahmad Wagner's 9 points and five rebounds were all vital — and even more so considering the loss Iowa suffered before they even took the court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Junior forward Dale Jones reinjured his right knee earlier this week, and it was confirmed Saturday he'll be out the rest of the season after surgery.

'I'm very disappointed for him, because I love that kid and he was really coming and he could really be a major factor on this team — especially off the bench,' McCaffery said. 'His spirits are good, and we'll just pray for a successful surgery for him.

'It would be Dom, Ahmad, and Nicholas. Those three guys (to fill his role).'

Jones' absence puts a strain on the depth of the Hawkeyes (6-2), but McCaffery and his players stressed they have guys who are certainly capable of filling the role.

What's going to be missed most, they said, is his shooting ability. He was a 40 percent shooter overall and 45 percent shooter from deep before his injury, and replacing that production will put the focus squarely on the bench players who had big roles Saturday against the Kangaroos (5-3).

Uhl, Baer, Wagner and Brady Ellingson will all have increased roles.

'I think I can deliver a spark off the bench when I get in the game. That's what I try to do,' Uhl said. 'I think we're going to have to play a big role. With one guy out, we've got to step up and make plays.'

It was Uhl and Baer who had the best games off the bench, though not to discount 13 points apiece from Jarrod Uthoff (who also had seven rebounds and five blocks) and Anthony Clemmons.

Those timeout talks McCaffery had with his team were in vintage fashion for the passionate head coach, who wanted more out of his team. At one point in the second half, after UMKC got two offensive rebounds in a row, then got an and-1 bucket after the second rebound, McCaffery entered the huddle and shouted a single word — 'soft!'

The Hawkeyes responded, sparked, as he said, by Uhl and Baer, who was 4 of 5 from 3-point range.

'I felt we got a lead, it was a decent lead, but it wasn't a comfortable lead and I thought we were content to trade, in both halves. That's where we need to be more intense and get consecutive stops,' McCaffery said. 'We got 53 points off the bench. That's a lot of points. I'm really proud of those guys. I thought in that one stretch, like you said, right after I got on them at that timeout, we got consecutive stops. Then the lead got to 25 or whatever and we felt like, OK, we got it.'

Uhl's performance specifically was one that McCaffery wanted to see — especially after getting on his team. Uhl was a man of few words in assessing his game, but was proud of it and his role.

'I just tried to stay aggressive today — be aggressive on the boards. That's what Coach told me to do. We've got to rebound as a team. Woody (Adam Woodbury) can't be the only guy who rebounds,' Uhl said. 'It's always good to have a good game, but I'm just looking forward to my next one.'

The sophomore didn't start the game well, but he rose his level of play when he needed to. Uhl was going to see significant time this season anyway, but now those minutes are of much bigger importance.

The youth on this team responding to a call to action is the most positive sign the Hawkeyes could hope for on a day with some bad news.

'You know what's great about it? He didn't start great. If you think about it, he fumbled it. I was getting ready to yank him, because I just thought he wasn't quite ready,' McCaffery said. 'But he did fly at the glass. His success wasn't great, but his energy level was worth me leaving him in the game. I left him in the game and then he was spectacular, double-double, 14, 10, three assists. Just so proud of him and we need it.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com