IOWA CITY – Iowa drubbed New Orleans, 104-57, Sunday afternoon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes reached the century mark for the second time this season – scoring 104 points.
Iowa shot a season-high 62.7 percent (42-of-67) in the game. The team scored a 57 points in the first half – the most in a half this season.
Thirteen different Hawkeyes scored in the win.
It was Iowa’s largest margin of victory since 2021 when Iowa beat Western Michigan 109 to 61.
Iowa had five players finish in double figures: Owen Freeman 22, Payton Sandfort 15, Brock Harding 13, Josh Dix 13, Pryce Sandfort 10
Freeman made 10-of-12 field goals (83.3 percent) to tie a career high with 22 points. His 10 field goals were a season-best.
It was his second 20-point game of the season (fourth of his career).
He also had four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.
Harding made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to open the game.
He finished with 13 points, six assists and two steals. It was his seventh game with 6+ helpers.
He either scored or assisted on seven of Iowa’s first eight field goals.
Payton Sandfort finished with 15 points, making 5-of-8 field goals, including three 3-pointers.
He has made 3+ 3-pointers in four straight games, six times this season and 29 times in his career.
Freshman Cooper Koch played in his first game since Nov. 22, finishing with six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Sophomore Seydou Traore missed his fifth game of the season because of injury.
Iowa finished with a season-high 28 assists on its 42 field goals.
The team had eight assists on its first eight field goals.
The team finished with a season-high 38 fast-break points in the victory.
Iowa had 11 blocks in the game – a season-best. Three players had two or more blocks.
The Hawkeyes made 8-of-10 3-point field goals to open the game and 11-of-19 in the first half.
The 11 3s are the most the team has made in a half this season.
The team finished with 14 3-pointers in the game – its sixth game with 10+ 3s – and the second-most in a game this season.
Iowa made its first four field goals, including three 3-pointers to open the game and made 9-of-11 shots (six 3 pointers) over the first nine minutes and 14-of-17 field goals (9-of-12 3s) over the first 7:15.
The Hawkeyes shot 67.7 percent (21-of-31) in the first half – a season-high percentage in a half.
Iowa improves to 7-1 at home this season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will return to action Dec. 21, traveling to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a neutral site game against Utah. The game will begin at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon and it will be televised on BTN.
