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Iowa basketball snapped its four-game losing streak Sunday afternoon as the Hawkeyes bested Southern University 91-60.
Things got off to a very sloppy start for an Iowa team that was without one of its better players in Cordell Pemsl.
Sophomore Cordell Pemsl will not play in today’s game (leg). It is hopeful he will return to game action next Saturday vs. Drake.
— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) December 10, 2017
Southern made it a game for the first frame, and led for just over 8 minutes of the half as Iowa committed stupid turnovers (6 in the first half) and continued to shoot itself in the foot with dumb fouls (Southern was in the bonus for 11 minutes).
Connor McCaffery made his first appearance in the regular season, however, and provided a bit of a spark off the bench. Luka Garza also came in to relieve Tyler Cook who had 2 early fouls and gave Iowa something it has been missing for a while. Garza had 14 points and 8 boards in just 9 minutes, finishing the game with 23 points and 13 boards, giving him his second career-double double.
Iowa went into the locker room at half up 41-31 and never really looked back from there. Isaiah Moss was spicy, hitting back-to-back threes early in the second half, finishing with 12 points, all from three point land.
Tyler Cook murdered someone again and was assessed a foul for taunting, for some reason.
After a dunk like this, in a lopsided game, don't worry about the tech, @iamtc5. pic.twitter.com/SYOOdXrYIf
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) December 10, 2017
If you don’t want to be taunted don’t get dunked on like that.
Maishe Dailey is also showing signs of improvement, as he finished with 9 points and 4 boards.
Iowa turned the ball over just once in the second half and wore out Southern with its depth to pull away early in the frame.
Next up Iowa has Drake on Dec. 16 in Des Moines.
Other Notes
- Ryan Kriener left the game early with a poked eye. He returned in the second half and made three straight baskets.
- Jordan Bohannon had a pedestrian day, finishing with just 4 points and 0-3 from range. He played 25 minutes as Fran is still tinkering with his guards.
- Connor McCaffery doesn’t look like he’s there yet with conditioning, but that shouldn’t take too long. He played 17 minutes, hitting a three for his first points as a Hawkeye.
- Iowa stared the game with Baer, Cook, Nunge, Bohannon and Moss. That’s a lineup I really like.
- Nunge is showing good progression, finishing with 11 points and 4 blocks. He provides a really good spark at the defensive end of the court and has a high motor.
- Iowa was much improved at the charity stripe, going 22-28.