Vets carry Iowa Hawkeyes to 102-81 men’s basketball exhibition win over Minnesota Duluth

IOWA CITY — There may have been more people attending Iowa’s Homecoming parade Friday night than its men’s basketball team’s exhibition game, but did the people on the floats score 102 points?

The Hawkeyes got their act together in the second half and floated away from Minnesota Duluth before a small crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 102-81. The Division II Bulldogs are no mutts, having won 77 games over the previous three seasons.

“Veteran players, a multitude of grad students, guys in their fifth year, guys are redshirt juniors, redshirt seniors,” said Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery.

“You wanted to play a team like that. … So this was a very good game for us.”

It was a very good game for Iowa’s three top returning scorers from last season, senior forward Payton Sandfort, junior guard Josh Dix and sophomore center Owen Freeman. They scored 23, 22 and 21 points, respectively, for about 65 percent of their team’s points.

The trio combined to make 28 of 40 field goal tries on a night the Hawkeyes made 59.4 percent of their shots.

Dix had 17 second-half points, looking ultra-confident in his shot.

“He’s really amazingly consistent with his effort and his execution,” McCaffery said. “Nothing rattles him, he’s not a mistake guy. He makes shots, he makes plays. He doesn’t get tired. He plays defense. He’s a gamer.”

“He’s a pro,” Freeman said. “Just the way he carried himself, the way he moved on the court.

“He’s just a great player. I’m honored to share the court with him.”

Sandfort said coaches and teammates have told Dix in the last year that he needs to be more assertive if the team is to make a jump forward.

“You’re a pro, take over,” Sandfort described it. “That’s what he did.”

Iowa’s other two starters Friday were sophomore point guard Brock Harding and sophomore forward Ladji Dembele. Sophomore wing Pryce Sandfort had a nice second half, when he scored all 11 of his points.

Newcomers Cooper Koch, Seydou Traore and Drew Thelwell played 14, 11 and nine minutes, respectively, while the starters ranged from 21 to 30. Freshman forward Chris Tadji was not used.

Freeman and Payton Sandfort had eight rebounds apiece. Harding had six assists, Payton Sandfort five.

Iowa scored the first six points of the game, lost the lead, then went up 43-34 at halftime. They had the ball stolen five times in the half. The second half was smoother.

Iowa opens the regular season at home Nov. 4 against Texas A&M-Commerce.

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