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Hawkeye men get to 5-0 with 83-58 roughing up of Rider, face 4-0 Utah State next
Iowa never trailed, was never threatened. The Hawkeyes had 11 steals and allowed just one 3-pointer. Payton Sandfort had 22 points for Iowa, Owen Freeman 19.
Nov. 19, 2024 8:51 pm, Updated: Nov. 20, 2024 11:40 am
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IOWA CITY — The talk in the Iowa men’s basketball locker room after Tuesday’s game was about defense, and the talk was complimentary.
“The first thing I heard when I walked into the film room was ‘We kept them under 60!’” Iowa guard Drew Thelwell said. “So I definitely think it’s a big step in the right direction.”
Thelwell had five of the Hawkeyes’ 11 steals. Iowa allowed just one 3-pointer to go in the basket, and clamped down on Rider for an 83-58 win at Carver-Hawkeye before another small crowd.
It was the first time an opponent made so few threes against Iowa since Alcorn State had zero in 2014.
Thus, things are set for a matchup of unbeatens Friday in Kansas City, Mo.
Iowa, winner of all five of its games by double-digits, will face 4-0 Utah State Friday at 7 p.m. in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.
Utah State was 28-7 with an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. It is averaging a nation-leading 104 points per game.
“It should be a great game, great atmosphere,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said.
Iowa never trailed Tuesday, using a 14-2 run to build a 27-12 lead, and was ahead by double-digits the rest of the way against the Broncs of Lawrenceville, N.J.
Hawkeye forward Payton Sandfort led the scoring with 22 points. Iowa center Owen Freeman added 19. The two are averaging 17.8 and 17.5, respectively.
In 27 minutes off the bench, guard Drew Thelwell had seven assists, his high as a Hawkeye. He also had five steals, matching the most he had in a game during his four seasons at Morehead State.
“His attitude, his positivity, is just infectious,” McCaffery said. “When you play defense like that, you earn the respect of your teammates. And I think the fans have responded to him.”
Iowa played without starting guard Josh Dix, who is dealing with a wrist injury suffered during last Friday’s game against Washington State.
“Hopefully he’ll play Friday,” McCaffery said. “I can’t say for sure.”
This was the fifth of 3-2 Rider’s seven road games to start its season.
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
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