IOWA CITY – Iowa (12-4, 3-2 B1G) annihilated Indiana (13-4, 4-2 B1G), 85-60, Saturday on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, building a 30-point lead at one time.
The Hawkeyes improved to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play with a 85-60 victory over Indiana on Saturday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won three straight over Indiana in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes snapped the Hoosiers five game winning streak and handed IU just its second loss in its last 11 games.
Iowa’s 25-point victory over the Hoosiers is the largest in the series since 1996 (76-50).
The Hawkeyes have scored 80 or more points in 10 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 26. It is the longest stretch for the program since scoring 80+ in 13 straight games during the 1988-89 season.
Iowa had five players finish in double figures: Payton Sandfort 23, Owen Freeman 16, Josh Dix 12, Drew Thelwell 12, Brock Harding 10.
Freeman notched his third double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals. He was 8-of-13 from the field. It is Freeman’s eighth career double-double. Freeman has had 3+ blocks in eight games and 18 over his last six contests.
Payton Sandfort scored 23 points, making 7-of-12 field goals, including four 3-pointers. He scored 21 points in the second half a game after scoring 27 in the final 20 minutes (30 in second half and OT) in the win over Nebraska on Jan. 7.
It is Sandfort’s second straight 20-point contest and his team-best sixth of the season. He has 24 career 20-point games. Sandfort has made four or more 3-pointers in 24 career games.
Thelwell had 12 points, making 4-of-7 field goals. He finished with a career-high six steals, including five in the first half.
His six steals are the most by a Hawkeye since Joe Toussaint in 2021 and are tied for the second-most in a game under Fran McCaffery. It was Thelwell’s second game with five or more steals.
Harding notched his second double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists.
It is his third career game with 10 or more assists.
Iowa finished with a 26-2 advantage in fastbreak points.
The Hawkeyes made 11 3-pointers, finishing 11-of-24. Iowa has made 10+ 3s in nine games this season.
Iowa shot 54.2 percent from the floor (32-of-59). The Hawkeyes are undefeated (8-0) when shooting at least 50 percent.
Iowa improves to 10-1 at home this season.
Iowa had a 15-0 run early in first half and a 16-0 run late; the Hawkeyes led 43-33 at the break.
Iowa shot 58.1 percent in the first half (18-of-31) with five 3-pointers.
The Hawkeyes out rebounded the Hoosiers 37-31.
This is the first time this season Iowa has won the rebounding battle in Big Ten play.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Tuesday, traveling to Los Angeles to face USC. The game will begin at 9:30 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FS1.
