IOWA CITY – Iowa had six players finish in double figures in the game with junior Payton Sandfort leading the way with 21 points and nine rebounds in an easy win over North Dakota Tuesday night.
Iowa scored 110 points – the most in a season opener under head coach Fran McCaffery. The previous high was 106 points against Longwood in 2021.
Iowa’s 110 points are tied for the sixth-most under McCaffery.
The Hawkeyes scored 56 points in the first half, making 8-of-16 3-point field goals.
The Hawkeyes have won 13 consecutive regular season openers under McCaffery.
McCaffery now has 262 career victories as Iowa’s head coach, 10 wins from becoming the winningest coach in program history.
Iowa has won 84 of its last 90 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
The Hawkeyes committed just one turnover in the first half (on the first possession of the game) and seven for the contest.
Sandfort made 7-of-13 field goal attempts and three 3-pointers. Sandfort scored 10 of Iowa’s first 16 points and 13 of the first 21. He had 15 points in the first half.
It is Sandfort’s eighth career 20-point game and his 11th career game with three or more 3-pointers.
Iowa’s four freshmen combined for 31 points in their official Hawkeye debuts. Owen Freeman had 14 points in 15 minutes.
The Hawkeyes had a 27-3 advantage in fastbreak points. Iowa scored 31 points off 19 UND turnovers.
Iowa had 23 assists on its 40 field goals. Harding tallied seven assists, while Bowen registered five. The 40 field goals are tied for the sixth-most under McCaffery.
Iowa stays home to face Alabama State on Friday night.
