Tony Perkins, Ben Krikke carry Iowa past North Florida

Field Level Media|published: Wed 29th November, 23:25 2023

Nov 29, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery reacts with an official during the first half against the North Florida Ospreys at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. credits: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Perkins scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Ben Krikke also had 21 points to help Iowa record a 103-78 victory over visiting North Florida on Wednesday night at Iowa City, Iowa.

Owen Freeman added 16 points, five rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals for the Hawkeyes (5-2), who topped 100 points for the second time this season. Patrick McCaffery also scored 16 points and Payton Sandfort added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Chaz Lanier scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Jaylen Smith added 15 for North Florida (4-4). Ametri Moss added 13 points for the Ospreys, who made 45.5 percent of their attempts and were 12 of 31 from behind the arc. Smith had four treys.

Iowa outscored North Florida 56-35 in the second half. The Hawkeyes shot 63.3 percent in the half to finish at 59 percent overall. Iowa was 8 of 14 from 3-point range.

North Florida trailed 52-51 after an inside hoop by Dorian James with 16:50 remaining in the game before the Hawkeyes began pulling away.

McCaffery drained a 3-pointer and Perkins converted a three-point play to start a 12-2 run. Krikke scored two baskets and Sandfort added a layup to give Iowa a 63-54 lead with 13:23 left.

Smith knocked down a 3-pointer for the Ospreys before the Hawkeyes went on a 17-4 burst. Krikke (seven) and Sandfort (six) combined for 13 points during the run with Krikke converting a three-point play and Sandfort sinking a trey to conclude it for a 19-point lead with 9:27 to go.

Iowa later went on an 11-0 surge to increase the margin to 24. Josh Dix hit a 3-pointer to push the Hawkeyes over 100.

Perkins scored 14 points and Freeman added 12 in the first half as Iowa led 47-43.

The Hawkeyes led 26-19 after two free throws by Krikke with 10:48 left in the half. North Florida rattled off the next nine points, capped by a 3-pointer from Smith for a two-point lead with 8:52 remaining.

Iowa responded with 12 straight points. Freeman had six of them as the Hawkeyes took a 38-28 with 5:40 to play.

Iowa led by 12 after Freeman's basket with 2:48 left before the Ospreys closed the half with a 10-2 push.

—Field Level Media

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