HEIDELBERG, Germany – Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures to help the University of Iowa men’s basketball team run past the German All-Stars, 99-65, Tuesday evening.
Tonight’s game was scheduled mainly for senior Dom Uhl. The native of Frankfurt, Germany, had seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in his homecoming.
The Hawkeyes led by four points at halftime (48-44), but controlled the second half by forcing turnovers on defense and scoring in transition. Iowa outscored the German All-Stars squad 22-5 on the fast break and 51-21 over the final 20 minutes.
Eleven Hawkeyes tallied points with Luka Garza leading the way with 17. Tyler Cook contributed 16 points, while Isaiah Moss chipped in 15 and Nicholas Baer had 10.
Iowa broke the game open near the end of the third quarter, going on an 11-0 scoring blitz over the final 2:47 to lead 74-55 after three quarters.
HAWKEYE PERFORMER OF THE GAME
In his first action as a Hawkeye against an opponent, freshman Luka Garza shined with a double-double. Garza totaled 17 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Garza was an efficient 6-of-10 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Garza, who started the game, had a couple and-one’s to help give his team momentum.
STAT OF THE GAME
Iowa hurt the German All-Stars with both its inside and outside game, but it was the Hawkeyes’ perimeter shooting that did the most damage. Iowa made 15 3-pointers compared to just six for the German All-Stars. Moss drained a game-best five triples.
COACH McCAFFERY’S COMMENTS
“Our transition offense really clicked tonight. What I was really impressed with was how we passed the ball. We threw it ahead, we moved the ball… everyone who shot the basketball was open. It’s fun to watch so many guys contribute the way they did tonight.
On the difference in the second half:
“I thought our defense was a lot better in the second half. They were hurting us with some ball-screen action, but we really contained penetration much better, which created more misses, which created more opportunities for us to run. I thought our ability to sustain that pressure against them was the difference.
On Luka Garza’s double-double performance:
Luka’s energy level is infectious. He’s incredibly intelligent and efficient. He’s always in the right place. That’s why I love him.
NOTABLES
· Tonight’s game was a charity event for Basketball Aid in Germany. The proceeds from the contest will benefit pediatric cancer.
· Iowa is scheduled to play four exhibition games over the next seven days in Europe. The plan is to rotate starting lineups, while each of the scholarship players will see action in at least three games.
· Iowa’s starting lineup featured Jordan Bohannon, Isaiah Moss, Ahmad Wagner, Dom Uhl, and Luka Garza.
· Maishe Dailey, Ryan Kriener, and Cordell Pemsl did not play, but all three are expect to see action in Iowa’s final three European contests.
· Nicholas Baer continued where he left off last year filling up the stat sheet with hustle stats. In addition to the 10 points, the redshirt junior had five rebounds, four assists, and a game-best four steals.
· Iowa shot 43.7 percent (38-of-87) from the field, including 45.5 percent (15-of-33) from 3-point range. The Hawkeyes held the German All-Stars to just 19 percent from long distance (6-of-31).
· Iowa was content on dribbling out the clock at the end of the game, but the crowd and opposing team encouraged walk-on Austin Ash to launch a near-half court shot, which he swished as time expired to give the Hawkeyes 99 points.
UP NEXT
Iowa will travel to Switzerland tomorrow by bus transport. The Hawkeyes will return to the hardwood on Thursday when they face the Swiss All-Stars.
