IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s offense struggled with turnovers early on, but thanks to its determination to feed the post, the Hawkeyes dominated down low in a 93-82 win over Green Bay on Sunday. Luka Garza and Tyler Cook muscled Phoenix defenders in the paint all game long, as each scored 17 points.

Forwards Garza, Cook, Nicholas Baer, and Ryan Kriener combined to score 54 points, but it was also Jordan Bohannon’s play on the outside that sparked Iowa’s second-half breakaway. Connor McCaffery’s presence at point guard allowed Bohannon to slide over from point to shooting guard, freeing him from primary ball-handling duties and giving him more looks from long-range. Bohannon scored all 13 of his points in the second half, hitting three of his six 3-point attempts.

Defense was Iowa’s Achilles’ heel last season and it showed again. It’s early, but giving up 82 points isn’t ideal for a team that made defense an offseason priority. Iowa’s bench scored 33 points. McCaffery’s squad prides itself on a deep rotation, and on Sunday, that was the case. Baer led the way, scoring 12 points, grabbing six rebounds, and tallying a steal and a block. McCaffery scored 11 points and dished three assists and Kriener added eight points.

McCaffery on playing alongside Bohannon: “He makes shots. I can take my guy off the dribble. It’s good to have two guards on the floor that really handle the ball, know what we’re doing at all times. I think it’s a good lineup. I love playing with him.”
UP NEXT
Iowa travels to New York City for a showdown against Oregon on Thursday as the 2K Classic for the Wounded Warrior Project moves from campus sites to Madison Square Garden.