(HawkeyeSports.com) — Luka Garza continues to make history.
The senior center scored 41 points and made 14-of-15 field goals, three 3-point field goals, and 10-of-12 free throws to lead the No. 5/6 University of Iowa men’s basketball team to a 103-76 rout of Southern on Saturday on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Garza is now one of two Hawkeyes – along with John Johnson – to register two career 40 point games in school history. He scored 44 last season at Michigan.
Garza opened Iowa’s scoring with a 3-pointer – his first of the season – 49 seconds into the game and the Hawkeyes led 10-0, 14-2, and 17-5 less than five minutes in. He had 13 points in the first 6 1/2 minutes before closing the half on the flurry.
The Hawkeyes led 28-20 when Garza scored six straight to make the score 33-20. He scored seven straight – with five coming at the free throw line – to push the advantage to 43-24. Garza scored 10 of the final 15 over the final 3:37 as Iowa led 58-35 at the break.
Garza was a perfect 12-for-12 from the field in the first half en route to 36 points. It is believed to be the highest scoring half in school history. Garza just missed a double-double for the game, finishing with nine rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes.
Junior Joe Wieskamp was the only other Hawkeye in double digits with 16 points. He made five field goals – four 3-pointers – and had seven rebounds. Senior Jordan Bohannon had seven assists.
Iowa shot 54.8 percent from the field, making 34-of-62 field goals. Seven different Hawkeyes made a 3-pointer as the team finished 12-of-24 from long range and it was 23-of-31 from the free throw stripe. Iowa assisted on 27 of its 34 field goals.
Southern out-rebounded Iowa, 42-37, but the Jaguars committed 16 turnovers, which the Hawkeyes turned into 28 points. Iowa limited Southern to 38.6 percent shooting and a 7-of-21 night from 3-point range.
The Hawkeyes led by more than 20 points for the entire second half and the lead swelled to 34 with 1:18 to play.
Iowa returns to action Thursday against Western Illinois.
