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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholls | 2-0 | - | 7-5 |
| Lamar | 2-0 | - | 6-6 |
| Northwestern State | 2-0 | - | 5-6 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Incarnate Word | 1-1 | 1 | 7-5 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 1-1 | 1 | 7-6 |
| Houston Christian | 1-1 | 1 | 4-8 |
| McNeese | 0-0 | 1 | 5-5 |
| SE Louisiana | 0-1 | 1.5 | 6-6 |
| New Orleans | 0-1 | 1.5 | 2-8 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 0-2 | 2 | 6-6 |
| East Texas A&M | 0-2 | 2 | 2-11 |
2024-25 Big Ten Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 2-0 | - | 10-2 |
| UCLA | 2-0 | - | 10-2 |
| Michigan | 2-0 | - | 8-3 |
| Oregon | 1-1 | 1 | 11-1 |
| Maryland | 1-1 | 1 | 10-2 |
| Penn State | 1-1 | 1 | 10-2 |
| Nebraska | 1-1 | 1 | 7-2 |
| Iowa | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Northwestern | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Indiana | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Illinois | 1-1 | 1 | 7-3 |
| Ohio State | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Purdue | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| USC | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Rutgers | 1-1 | 1 | 7-5 |
| Wisconsin | 0-2 | 2 | 9-3 |
| Washington | 0-2 | 2 | 8-3 |
| Minnesota | 0-2 | 2 | 7-5 |
Men's College Basketball News