Fran McCaffery’s Iowa Hawkeyes got back on track Saturday night with a solid victory over a good Drake basketball team.
“It was a focused effort,” McCaffery said. “It wasn’t perfect, but it was hard fought at both ends. We executed when we had to.”
Matt Gatens (pictured) led Iowa with 20 points and 6 rebounds. He played the entire 40 minutes. “Tonight was really just an incredible performance, and that’s what we need,” McCaffery said of Gatens. We need him to be the steadying influence out there when I have so many young guys alongside of him. ”
Iowa point guard Bryce Cartwright, back from injury, had a slow first half but came back strong in the second half, scoring 12 points and making all 8 free throw attempts.
Rayvonte Rice led Drake with 23 points, making a few really nifty moves around the basket.
Iowa now has two non-conference games left before Big 10 play begins with games at home against Purdue and on the road against Wisconsin.
Iowa improves to 6-5 with the win, while Drake fell to 6-4.
