IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s basketball squad triumphed over New Hampshire, 112-70, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday evening. The victory, characterized by a well-rounded offensive strategy and tenacious defense, concluded non-conference play for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 10-3 this season. Iowa enters Big Ten competition with a 1-1 record in conference matches.
Right from the outset, Iowa established an assertive offense paired with vigorous defense. The Hawkeyes surged to an early advantage, ending the first half with a decisive, 62-33 lead. Iowa recorded 23-of-59 (59%) shooting from the field and 6-of-17 (35.3%) from three-point territory. The bench contributed 29 points during the first half while the defense managed to force eight turnovers.
In the initial half, senior Payton Sandfort spearheaded the effort, netting 11 points and securing three rebounds. Graduate guard Drew Thelwell scored nine points with a flawless performance of 4-of-4 from the field while adding four assists.
The second half saw no decrease in intensity from the Hawkeyes. They remained dominant, outscoring the Wildcats, 50-37. Sophomore Seydou Traore played a crucial role in sustaining Iowa’s energy, contributing 14 points and a career-best six assists over the game. Iowa’s defense was equally commendable, forcing 10 turnovers in the second half.
Payton Sandfort concluded the game with 15 points to lead the Hawkeyes, while freshman Cooper Koch achieved a personal best with 14 points. Ladji Dembele marked a career high with 12 points, and junior Josh Dix along with sophomore Pryce Sandfort completed the Hawkeyes in double digits with 11 points each.
The shooting effectiveness of Iowa proved to be a significant element in their success. The Hawkeyes shot 45-of-74 from the field (60.8%), with 10-of-29 (34.5%) from beyond the arc. Their assertive play within the paint yielded 64 points, and their fast break opportunities contributed an additional 33 points.
The Iowa defense restricted New Hampshire to 28-of-69 (40.6%) shooting from the field and 8-of-26 (30.8%) from three-point range.
