(Radio Iowa) – Drake coach Darian DeVries says depth has been a major factor in Drake’s 13-0 start to the season. No Bulldog is averaging 25 minutes or more per game and nine are averaging at least 12 minutes on the court. It is even more critical this season with the Missouri Valley format of back-to-back games.

Drake is off to a 4-0 start in the Valley.

That depth also allows Drake to extend their defense and pressure opponents.

The Bulldogs open a two game Valley series at home against Loyola on Sunday.

(Radio Iowa) – Starting today (Friday), Iowa high schools do not have to limit the number of spectators at basketball games, wrestling meets and other sporting events. Governor Reynolds updated her public health emergency proclamation as of midnight. She lifted the restriction that only people who lived in a participant’s household could attend games or extracurricular events. While that limit is gone, fans at indoor games or meets must still wear masks and maintain their distance from others who don’t live in their household.

School districts and athletic conferences do have the authority to enforce stricter limits or ban fans altogether. The governor’s updated proclamation has extended the mask mandate for many indoor public spaces until February 6th.

**Most area school districts still have spectator restrictions in place, please check on information for each event before you attend. It is possible these guidelines may change for different school districts and conferences in the future.**

No. 18 Texas Tech looks to give Iowa State its 12th straight loss to ranked opponents, Saturday, in Ames. The game at H. Hilton Coliseum, begins 3-p.m. CST. Iowa State’s last win vs a ranked opponent came against the then-No. 16 Seton Hall Pirates 76-66 on Dec. 8, 2019. Texas Tech got past Kansas State by 11 at home in its last outing.

Iowa State’s Jalen Coleman-Lands, Solomon Young and Javan Johnson have collectively scored 53 percent of the team’s points this season, including 53 percent of all Cyclones scoring over the last five games. Rasir Bolton has either made or assisted on 40 percent of all Iowa State field goals over the last five games. Bolton has 26 field goals and 25 assists in those games. Iowa State is 0-6 this year when it allows 70 points or more and 2-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 70.

The Red Raiders have recently converted buckets via assists more often than the Cyclones. Iowa State has 27 assists on 76 field goals (35.5 percent) across its previous three outings while Texas Tech has assists on 37 of 75 field goals (49.3 percent) during its past three games.

The Texas Tech defense has forced opponents into turnovers on an impressive 27.2 percent of all possessions, which ranks the Red Raiders sixth among Division I teams. Iowa State has turned the ball over on 22.8 percent of its possessions (ranking the Cyclones 300th, nationally).

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Luka Garza scored 17 of his 24 points in the decisive first half, and No. 5 Iowa roared back from an early deficit by keeping Maryland scoreless for nearly eight minutes in an 89-67 victory. The Hawkeyes trailed 19-9 before rattling off 20 straight points to take control.

Iowa center Luka Garza, top left, goes to the basket between Maryland forward Donta Scott (24) and guard Eric Ayala (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Maryland went 0 for 11 with five turnovers in a span of 8 minutes, 47 seconds, until Donta Scott hit a 3-pointer to end the dry spell. Aaron Wiggins scored 17 for Maryland, and Scott added 13.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Harlan 77, Red Oak 58
Shenandoah 42, Fremont Mills 39

Western Iowa Conference

Audubon 45, Ar-We-Va, Westside 44
IKM-Manning 38, Underwood 36
Treynor 73, Logan-Magnolia 60

Other Scores

Martensdale-St. Marys 60, Ankeny Christian 56
Murray 58, East Union 45
Van Meter 65, Earlham 41

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Harlan 59, Red Oak 24
Shenandoah 51, Fremont Mills 46

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 61, Stanton 55
Audubon 53, Ar-We-Va 30
Treynor 48, Logan-Magnolia 41
Underwood 64, IKM-Manning 35

Other Scores

ADM 62, Perry 35
Falls City Sacred Heart, Neb. 53, Sidney 24
Murray 54, East Union 45
West Monona 63, Tekamah-Herman, Neb. 23

Southwest Valley Athletic Director Allen Naugle has announced changes to the format for the upcoming 66th edition of the John. J. Harris Wrestling Tournament.

The tourney will still be held on two days but each day will include all wrestling for specific weight classes. The 106-145lb portion of the tournament will be contested on Friday, January 22nd beginning at 3:00 p.m. The 152-285lb brackets will wrestle on Saturday, January 23rd.

Tournament officials also announced that traditional t-shirt sales for the event will be done online instead of on-site. Shirts will be available for pickup at the event for those that are able to attend, otherwise shirts will be shipped directly to you. Check out the link HERE.

(IHSAA) Following venue and event format changes due to COVID-19, the 2021 IHSAA State Swimming Championships are now scheduled for Saturday, February 13 at Linn-Mar High School in Marion.

Next month’s meet had previously been set for a two-day preliminary and final format at the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Due to capacity limitations, spectators will not be permitted at any IHSAA postseason swimming event. State meet and state qualifying meet attendance is limited to participants, event staff, administrators and coaches, and approved media members.

“We’re grateful to Linn-Mar for stepping up as an able and willing host school for the 2021 IHSAA State Swimming Championships,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said.

“Swimming has faced challenging circumstances throughout this school year. The IHSAA appreciates the efforts of participating schools, officials, and competitors to even make this boys’ swimming season and postseason possible.”

The move out of the University of Iowa natatorium was announced on December 3, where the meet has been since 2018. The total number of qualifiers for the one-day state meet with timed finals – 32 entries for individual events, 24 teams for relay events from six state qualifying meet sites – is an increase from 2020 and will remain equal to what was planned in the two-day format.

Linn-Mar has served as a co-host of the state meet at the University of Iowa for the last three years. The IHSAA is looking forward to working with the University of Iowa for the event in the future.

Sites and assignments for state qualifying meets are scheduled to be released next week. State qualifying meets are set for February 6, as previously scheduled.

Host sites of state qualifying meets will have the option of providing video streaming of the event at no charge to the host site or to viewers. The state meet will be streamed from Linn-Mar through IHSAA partner NFHS Network.

Details on the state meet will be posted on the State Meet Central page as they become available. Any further updates to postseason scheduling and guidance will be shared with member schools and through the Swimming and State Meet Central pages.

LOS ANGELES — University of Iowa senior All-American Luka Garza headlines the John R. Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25. The announcement was made Wednesday evening by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2020-21 season, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for one of the sport’s most prestigious honor.

Garza (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) has been named to every major preseason All-American team and national player of the year award. Garza has ascended to second on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart, trailing only Roy Marble. Garza, who was a Wooden Award All-American a year ago, leads the all Division I players with a 46.82 Player Efficiency Rating (PER). He also is first in the country in points per game (27.5), 30-point games (5), and field goals made (111). Garza ranks third in the NCAA in free throws made (61) and free throw attempts (83), and tied for sixth in double-doubles (5).

Garza’s 34 points against Iowa State (Dec. 11) are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in the Cy-Hawk Series. He scored 21 straight points, spanning 5:15 in the second half against the Cyclones, including four consecutive 3-pointers on four straight possessions. Garza registered 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field against top-ranked Gonzaga (Dec. 19). He recorded 32 points and season-high 17 rebounds against Minnesota (Dec. 25) for his fifth double-double of the season and 25th of his career, which ranks seventh most in Hawkeye history. Garza’s 41 points against Southern University (Nov. 27) are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and his 36 first-half points (12-12 FG, 10-12 FT) are believed to be the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a half in program history. His efficient performance (14-15 FG; .933) against Southern was the best single-game field goal percentage by a Big Ten player since 1984.

Garza and the fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes return to action on Thursday against Maryland. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:01 p.m. (CT) at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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No. 16 Minnesota plays at No. 5 Iowa on Sunday. That’s a rematch of a stirring game the teams played on Christmas night. The Golden Gophers won 102-95 in overtime. Brandon Johnson made eight 3-pointers for Minnesota, which overcame 32 points and 17 rebounds from Iowa star Luka Garza. The Big Ten’s other two top-10 teams are scheduled to play Tuesday night when No. 8 Wisconsin visits No. 10 Michigan. The Wolverines are unbeaten and have won four straight games by double digits.

(By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer)