Iowa beats Gardner Webb 76-59 in opener
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Jarrod Uthoff scored all of his career-high 21 points in the first half and Iowa beat Gardner Webb 76-59 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Adam Woodbury had 11 points and Peter Jok added 8 before leaving early in the second half with an injury for the Hawkeyes, who scored 21 points off 17 Bulldog turnovers.
Tyrell Nelson scored 12 points to lead Gardner Webb, which shot 19 percent from the field in the second half.
Uthoff hit 6 of 9 field goals and all seven of his free throws in the first half. The senior put up only three shots in limited second-half minutes.
Iowa led 41-37 after a back-and-forth first half. The Hawkeyes opened the second half on an 8-0 run to create a cushion and led by double figures for much of the rest of the game.
The Hawkeyes have won 33 of their last 34 nonconference home games.
Jok left the game a few minutes into the second half after colliding with teammate Anthony Clemmons while going for a loose ball in front of Iowa's bench.
Jok, a starting guard, didn't put any weight on his right ankle as he was helped to the locker room. He didn't return.
Iowa freshman Ahmad Wagner had 6 points and eight rebounds in only nine minutes.
Mike Gesell had nine of Iowa's 15 assists, a career high.
Guard Isaiah Ivey had nine points and nine rebounds for Gardner Webb.
Gardner Webb was whistled for 28 fouls and Iowa made 21 of 28 free throws. Two Bulldogs fouled out.
TIP-INS
Iowa: This was Iowa coach Fran McCaffery's 600th game as a coach. . The Hawkeyes won the only previous meeting against Gardner Webb by rallying from 23 points down in 2012 to complete the largest comeback in school history.
Gardner Webb: Nelson was named to the preseason All-Big South Conference team. . Eight of the Bulldogs' first 10 games are on the road.
UP NEXT
Iowa hosts Coppin State on Sunday.
Gardner Webb travels to No. 18 Vanderbilt on Monday.
