Hawks bang it inside

IOWA CITY - What's a 16-letter phrase that explains how Iowa men's basketball ended a two-game losing streak?

They went to Jarryd. As in center Jarryd Cole.

The Hawkeyes shifted offensive strategies a bit and dumped the ball inside to their 6-foot-7 junior, and he responded. Cole made 10 of 13 shots for a career-high 24 points as Iowa dismantled North Carolina Central, 73-63, Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“It was really fun out there,” said Cole, who had 10 rebounds. “The guys found a way to get me the ball, and I did my best to try to score. I give them credit for finding me and holding up my end of the bargain.”

Iowa (2-4) overcame a porous shooting performance from 3-point range - 3 of 20 - by feeding the ball inside to Cole and Brennan Cougill. Iowa outscored North Carolina Central 46-24 in the paint and 20-4 in second-chance scoring.

The Eagles (1-6), who are in their third season in Division I, helped Cole by defending him virtually without help in the post.

“I think we had a nice size advantage, height advantage down there,” Cole said. “I think we used it pretty well.

“Coach stressed the fact the other day that the highest percentage of points are going to come from the post, and the guys embraced that.”

Iowa sputtered offensively much of the first half. The Hawkeyes trailed 11-5 about 8 minutes into the game before mounting an 11-0 run and taking a nine-point halftime lead. After the Eagles hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, the Hawkeyes streaked down the court. Point guard Cully Payne lobbed a pass above the rim to Cole, who slammed it down and gave the Hawkeyes some momentum.

“He did a great job of working inside, getting open, and our guards found him and he put some good moves on guys,” said Iowa sophomore Matt Gatens, who scored 16 points. “He did a great job of getting in the hole, getting to the line, and at the same time finishing off on the defensive end.”

Iowa outrebounded the Eagles on both ends of the court and 43-22 overall. Iowa grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, including seven by Brennan Cougill, which was just one rebound fewer than the Eagles pulled down on defense. Cougill had nine points and nine rebounds overall.

“Jarryd was patient,” Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter said. “He shot shots he could make and plus he went to the glass hard.”

But Iowa's perimeter problems continued, especially from 3-point range. Also, Iowa had 16 turnovers, including eight about midway through the first half.

The game was Cole's second double-double, the first coming in double-overtime last season against Penn State. Cole said he doesn't have to score in double digits every game to be effective but must impact it in some way.

“I do need to be a force,” he said. “I do need to be accounted for so I can take pressure off the guards and the other posts and everything. That's the most important thing.”

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