SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota – A career-best 35 points scoring from sophomore Keegan Murray helped lift the University of Iowa men’s basketball team past Utah State, 94-75, on Saturday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
Murray scored 25 first-half points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 18 consecutive Iowa points over a six-minute stretch. Though the lead changed 14 times in the opening period, the Hawkeyes led 51-43 at the break and did not trail in the final 27 minutes of the game.
Murray finished with 35 points, seven rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist on the evening to help seal the 30-point rout for the Hawkeyes. He added two 3-pointers to 13-of-17 shooting from the field and a 7-of-8 total from the free throw line.
Sophomore Kris Murray was Iowa’s next leading scorer, matching a career-best with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor, including three 3-pointers. Redshirt sophomore Patrick McCaffery (12 points) and sixth-year senior Jordan Bohannon (11 points) joined the Murray twins as Iowa’s four double digit scorers on the night.
Iowa was strong on both sides of the ball, forcing 11 steals and four blocks for 18 points off turnovers at the sold-out neutral site game. The Hawkeyes outscored the Aggies 20-2 on fastbreaks and 48-28 in paint points; they also won the rebounding battle, 35-23, while shooting 55 percent from the floor. The Hawkeye advantage down low and in transition also contributed to eight dunks on the evening.
Iowa returns home Tuesday, hosting Southeastern Louisiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
