Iowa Hawkeyes Maintain Unbeaten Record with Dominant Victory Over Rider

The University of Iowa men’s basketball team secured a decisive victory over Rider, maintaining their unbeaten streak with an 83-58 win on Tuesday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa‘s strong defensive performance and effective scoring strategy set the pace for the game, contributing to their 5-0 record this season.

From the outset, Iowa demonstrated their defensive prowess and scoring efficiency, initiating the match with a 9-2 run and leading at halftime with a score of 40-26. Owen Freeman, instrumental in the first half, led Iowa in scoring with 12 points, complemented by Payton Sandfort’s 11 points, including a crucial three-pointer.

Iowa’s defense forced Rider into 10 first-half turnovers, generating 13 points from these opportunities. Brock Harding and Freeman were pivotal in this defensive stance, each contributing multiple steals and assists. Freeman also asserted dominance in the paint, finishing with 19 points and five rebounds. Seydou Traore added 12 points to Iowa’s tally.

In the second half, the Hawkeyes continued their offensive momentum with a 10-2 run, eventually outscoring Rider 43-32. Sandfort emerged as a key player, concluding the game with a team-best 22 points. Pryce Sandfort added significant contributions with 11 points and five rebounds, while Iowa’s bench accounted for 21 points.

Rider struggled to counter Iowa’s robust defense, achieving only 1-of-16 shooting from three-point range. The Hawkeyes concluded the game with a 46.9% shooting rate from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc, successfully converting 71.4% of their free throws. Conversely, Rider managed a 42.6% shooting rate from the field and a mere 6.3% from deep.

Head Coach Fran McCaffery praised his team’s defensive effort stating, «Our defense was really good tonight. Rider has a lot of drivers and shooters, and coming into the game, they were the only team in America with three true road wins. This team had our full attention, and you could see that defensively.»

Iowa’s victory marked their improvement to 5-0, mirroring their strong start since the 2022-23 season. The team’s defensive efforts were highlighted by forcing 20 Rider turnovers, converting them into 20 points, and maintaining Rider’s shooting to only 43.4%. Josh Dix, a junior starter, missed the game due to a wrist injury.

The Hawkeyes are set to return to action on Friday, facing Utah State in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. The game, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. (CT), will be broadcast on BTN.