Iowa crushes UTEP, moves to Atlantis finals

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- One night removed from an epic comeback at the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Iowa men's basketball team staged an epic beatdown.

The Hawkeyes (7-0) produced staggering statistics with relentless efficiency in a 89-53 massacre of UTEP (4-3) tonight. The Hawkeyes shot 52.5 percent from the field and held UTEP below 35 percent. Iowa outrebounded UTEP 46-24 and doubled up UTEP's assists 22-11.

Iowa didn't require another Devyn Marble masterpiece. He left with 13 minutes remaining, scoring just seven points (but he had seven assists, three rebounds and no turnovers). Aaron White played only 19 minutes and scored 17 points and was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. But it was pure efficiency from one of the nation's deepest rosters than enabled the Hawkeyes to secure their best start since the 2000-01 season.

White's points led Iowa, followed by Zach McCabe (14), Peter Jok (12) and Melsahn Basabe (10). Basabe also added seven rebounds, all of which were in the first half. Jarrod Uthoff scored eight and grabbed 10 boards.

Iowa will play the winner of Villanova-Kansas at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.