Iowa Dominates USC Upstate in 110-77 Victory
In a dazzling display of offensive prowess, the Iowa Hawkeyes crushed USC Upstate 110-77 in a non-conference matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game showcased Iowa’s depth and talent, with several players significantly contributing to the lopsided victory.
Explosive Start Sets the Tone
The Hawkeyes wasted no time asserting their dominance, jumping to an 18-3 lead in the opening minutes. This early onslaught was spearheaded by Owen Freeman, who poured in 12 of the team’s first 16 points in just over five minutes. Freeman’s hot start set the stage for a team-wide scoring fest.
Balanced Scoring Attack
Iowa’s offensive juggernaut was on full display. All 12 players who saw court time managed to score, with five Hawkeyes reaching double figures. This balanced attack overwhelmed the Spartans’ defense and demonstrated the depth of Iowa’s roster.
Brock Harding was the standout performer of the night, notching a career-high 20 points along with ten assists for an impressive double-double. Harding’s stellar play continued his recent trend of excellence, building on his previous career-high of 19 points set just four days earlier against Utah State.
Supporting Cast Shines
While Harding stole the spotlight, several other Hawkeyes made significant contributions:
- Owen Freeman finished with 17 points on efficient 8-of-12 shooting
- Drew Thelwell added 15 points off the bench
- Josh Dix chipped in 14 points
- Riley Mulvey scored a career-high 11 points, showcasing his improved post-play
Defensive Effort Fuels Transition Game
Head coach Fran McCaffery praised his team’s defensive effort, which he credited with fueling their transition game and building the early lead. The Hawkeyes’ commitment to defense translated into accessible scoring opportunities, allowing them to shoot a blistering 60.6% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range.
Injury Concern
The only blemish on an otherwise perfect night for Iowa was Seydou Traore’s apparent ankle injury early in the first half. Coach McCaffery described it as a “bad sprain” and expressed hope that Traore’s absence would be limited to a week or slightly longer rather than an extended period.
Looking Ahead
With this dominant performance, Iowa improves to 6-1 on the season. The Hawkeyes will look to carry this momentum into their Big Ten Conference opener against Northwestern on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 6 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
As Iowa continues to gel as a team and players like Brock Harding elevate their game, the Hawkeyes position themselves as a formidable force in the competitive Big Ten landscape. Their ability to spread the scoring load and play suffocating defense bodes well for their prospects as they enter conference play.