Iowa handles Western Illinois 90-56
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Jarrod Uthoff showed just how good he can be when he's assertive on the floor.
The senior scored a career-high 27 points and added nine rebounds as Iowa beat Western Illinois 90-56 for its fourth consecutive win.
Uthoff was 10 of 16 from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
"I think the thing about him that was really impressive today was that he did it in and out, and that's what we're looking for from him," coach Fran McCaffery.
Adam Woodbury added 10 points and four rebounds for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa jumped on the Leathernecks early and never let up, controlling the pace of play and asserting themselves in the paint for 40 minutes. They maintained the lead throughout the game.
Iowa finished an even 50 percent from the floor (33 of 66) and outrebounded the Leathernecks 45 to 35.
"I was definitely into the flow of the game," Uthoff said. "It was one of those days where the shots fall down. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't."
Uthoff did most of his damage in the first half, scoring 24 of Iowa's 53 points, including an 80-second span that saw him hit three 3-pointers.
Iowa has now won 37 of its last 38 games against non-conference opponents.
Garret Covington led Western Illinois with 12 points and Tate Stensgaard had 11 points.
McCaffery and the Hawks were careful not to overlook the Leathernecks, who opened the season by knocking off then-No. 17 Wisconsin on the road.
"This team, they're 6-1. And the Wisconsin win - if you watched the game - you know how hard it is to win there," McCaffery said. "They executed and they battled."
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TIP-INS:
Iowa: This was the ninth all-time meeting between Iowa and Western Illinois. Iowa is 9-0 all-time in those meetings. ... The Hawkeyes hit at least six 3-pointers for the second game in a row. ... Dom Uhl also added 15 points.
Western Illinois: The Leathernecks shot 34.8 percent from the field.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:
"He couldn't miss them in the first half. He's one of the best shooters and one of the best players in the country," senior Mike Gesell said of Uthoff.
ON THE RISE:
While Iowa's star players carried the pace in this one, the Hawks got meaningful contributions from freshman Brady Ellingson, who posted seven points.
UP NEXT:
Iowa travels to No. 4 Iowa State on Thursday.
Western Illinois hosts Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
