Men’s Basketball’s Luka Garza Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa men’s basketball All-American Luka Garza has been named the first Big Ten Player of the Week of the 2020-21 season following the Hawkeyes’ two victories last week. The announcement came Monday by the Big Ten Conference office.

Garza (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) averaged 33.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in wins over North Carolina Central (97-67) and Southern University (103-76). The native of Washington, D.C., scorched the nets making 86.2 percent (25-of-29) of his field goal attempts, 75 percent from 3-point range (3-of-4), and 87.5 percent from the foul line (14-of-16). His 33.5 scoring average is tops among Division I players.

Garza torched Southern University for 41 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. He netted 36 first-half points, which is believed to be the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a half in program history. In the first half, Garza made all 12 field-goal attempts and was 10-of-12 from the free throw line.     

Garza’s 41 points are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history (1983), besting the 36 scored by Adam Haluska (2006) and Rob Griffin (2000). He finished the contest with a .933 field goal percentage (14-of-15), including a perfect 1.000 (3-of-3) from 3-point range, which is the best single-game mark by a Big Ten player since 1984 (Minnesota’s Tommy Davis, 15-of-16, at Indiana).

In Iowa’s season opener against North Carolina Central, Garza posted his 21st career double-double, recording game highs in scoring (26), rebounds (10), and blocked shots (3).

Garza tallied 20 points or more in both games last week and 18 straight, dating back to last season. That ties Oklahoma’s Trae Young (2017-18) for the second-longest streak by a major conference player over the last 20 seasons, trailing only North Carolina State’s T.J. Warren (19).

Garza’s 67 points last week moved him into Iowa’s top 10 in career scoring, surpassing Dean Oliver, Adam Haluska, and Jess Settles. Garza (1,626) is 10 points from moving past Matt Gatens (1,635) for eighth place.

The center is one of two players in program history to score 40 points or more in two games in a career (John Johnson, 49 and 46). Garza netted 44 points at Michigan last season.

Garza earned two Big Ten Player of the Week honors last season (Dec. 9, 2019 and Jan. 20, 2020).No. 3 Iowa (2-0) will entertain Western Illinois (0-0) on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State junior defensive lineman Latrell Bankston was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, announced today by the Big 12 Conference.

The Woodstock, Ga., native was sensational in Iowa State’s 23-20 victory at No. 20 Texas on Friday, registering career highs in tackles (five) and sacks (2.0).

His two sacks were crucial. His first sack was on third down and halted a Texas drive at midfield.

Bankston’s second sack was even bigger. It occurred with Iowa State clinging to a 23-20 lead and Texas in possession with its final drive.

The Longhorns drove down to the ISU 36 and had 3^rd-and-10 with :09 seconds left in the contest. With one final play from scrimmage, Bankston busted up the middle and sacked Sam Ehlinger for a four-yard loss. It forced UT to use its final timeout with :04 seconds left.

Bankston’s sack pushed back the potential game-tying field goal attempt to 58 yards, as the kick hooked left and barely missed as time expired.

The win gave Iowa State its school-record seventh conference victory and clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.

Iowa State enters its final-regular season game on Saturday vs. West Virginia ranked No. 12 nationally in the Associated Press poll.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Co-Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday. Clark was also named to the Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll. Clark shares the freshman honor with Maryland’s Angel Reese. 

It is the first honor of Clark’s career and the first for the Hawkeyes this season. 

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native scored 27 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out four assists, registered three steals, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line – believed to be the best debut for a Hawkeye freshman. 

Clark’s 27 points are the most in a Big Ten debut since Maryland junior Eleanna Christinaki had 32 points in a win over Coppin State (Dec. 20, 2017). Her 27 points are believed to be the most in a Big Ten freshmen debut since Illinois’ Robin Preacely had 27 points against Illinois State (Dec. 1, 1992). 

Clark and the Hawkeyes travel to Drake on Wednesday for their first road contest of the season. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised on Mediacom MC22. Iowa returns home on Saturday, hosting Wisconsin in its Big Ten opener. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on BTN Plus.