IOWA CITY – Iowa drubbed South Dakota, 96-77, in the 2024 Kenny Arnold Classic.
Iowa won all three games to claim the team title at the Kenny Arnold Classic.
The Hawkeyes are 3-0 for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Iowa had five players finish in double figures: Josh Dix (23), Payton Sandfort (12), Seydou Traore (12), Drew Thelwell (11) and Ladji Dembele (11).
Dix finished with a season high 23 points and five assists, making 8-of-10 field goals and five 3-pointers, tying a career high. It was Dix’s fifth career 20 point game. He scored 12 of his 23 points in the first half.
Traore scored 12 points, making 5-of-9 field goals in his Hawkeye debut. He missed Iowa’s first two games because of injury.
Payton Sandfort scored 12 points, making 4-of-10 field goals, including two 3s. He has made two 3-point field goals in 44 career games.
Sophomore Ladji Dembele scored a career-high 11 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds.
Sophomore Brock Harding had six assists; he has 18 assists in three games.
Iowa made eight 3-point field goals in the first half and finished with 13 3-pointers in the game.
The team has made 10+ 3-pointers in all three games.
The Hawkeyes had 21 assists on 36 field goals. Iowa has had 20+ assists in all three games.
Iowa scored a season-high 96 points and scored 54 points in the second half.
Sophomore Pryce Sandfort made his first career start.
Sophomore Owen Freeman missed the game because of illness, ending a string of 27 consecutive starts. It is the first game Freeman has missed in his Hawkeye career.
UP NEXT
Iowa returns to action Friday, traveling to Moline for a neutral site John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown game against Washington State. The game will be held at Vibrant Arena at the MARK beginning at 7:30 p.m. (CT) and it will be televised on BTN.
