Iowa beats Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67 behind Payton Sandfort's 20 points, 11 rebounds
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- — Payton Sandfort scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to go with seven assists to help Iowa beat Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67 on Monday night in a season opener.
Owen Freeman added 15 points and nine rebounds for Iowa. Pryce Sandfort had 13 points, and Josh Dix and Drew Thelwell scored 10 apiece.
Payton Sandfort shot 7 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 9 from long range. The senior averaged 16.4 points and hit 94 3-pointers last season, third-most in program history.
Khaliq Abdul-Mateen scored 12 points and Scooter Williams Jr. added 11 to lead Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Hawkeyes took the lead for good midway through the first half and led 42-35 at the break. The Sandforts combined for 15 first-half points and three 3-pointers.
The Lions pulled within five points early in the second half before Iowa used a 33-9 run for an 84-55 lead with 3:42 remaining. During the stretch, Pryce Sandfort made two 3s and Freeman scored on an alley-oop dunk.
It was the first meeting between the teams. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 against the Southland Conference and have won 90 of their last 96 nonconference home games dating to 2012.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Tim Comer
- Bill Jacobson
- Tariq Lucas
2024-25 Southland Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese | 8-0 | - | 14-5 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 6-2 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Nicholls | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| SE Louisiana | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| Lamar | 5-3 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Northwestern State | 5-3 | 3 | 8-10 |
| Houston Christian | 5-3 | 3 | 8-11 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 4-4 | 4 | 12-7 |
| Incarnate Word | 2-6 | 6 | 9-10 |
| New Orleans | 2-6 | 6 | 4-15 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 1-7 | 7 | 8-11 |
| East Texas A&M | 0-8 | 8 | 2-17 |
2024-25 Big Ten Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 7-0 | - | 16-2 |
| Michigan | 6-1 | 1 | 14-4 |
| Purdue | 7-2 | 1 | 15-5 |
| Oregon | 5-3 | 2.5 | 16-3 |
| Wisconsin | 5-3 | 2.5 | 15-4 |
| Maryland | 5-4 | 3 | 15-5 |
| Indiana | 5-4 | 3 | 14-6 |
| Illinois | 5-4 | 3 | 13-6 |
| UCLA | 4-4 | 3.5 | 13-6 |
| USC | 4-4 | 3.5 | 12-7 |
| Penn State | 3-5 | 4.5 | 13-6 |
| Iowa | 3-5 | 4.5 | 12-7 |
| Northwestern | 3-5 | 4.5 | 12-7 |
| Ohio State | 3-5 | 4.5 | 11-8 |
| Rutgers | 3-5 | 4.5 | 10-9 |
| Nebraska | 2-6 | 5.5 | 12-7 |
| Minnesota | 2-6 | 5.5 | 10-9 |
| Washington | 1-7 | 6.5 | 10-9 |
Men's College Basketball News