Southern Jaguars vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 7th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Iowa bounced back from a rocky start to dominate visiting Texas A&M Commerce in Monday's season opener.
While the Hawkeyes aim to maintain their sharpness when Southern comes to Iowa City on Thursday, they now have proof that they can overcome early struggles.
"The guys really stepped up in the second half when we needed them to," said forward Payton Sandfort. "And now we can hold everyone accountable for that."
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Sandfort led the way for Iowa (1-0) with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Owen Freeman added 15 points and nine boards.
The Hawkeyes held a slim seven-point lead at halftime before pulling away for an 89-67 victory.
Sandfort praised the impact of Drew Thelwell, a transfer from Morehead State, for helping Iowa create separation in the second half.
Thelwell, one of five Hawkeyes to score in double figures, contributed 10 points and two steals in his debut for the team.
"He was a game-changer. He made big plays and really ignited us," Sandfort said. "And from there, we just took control."
Southern opened their season with a 93-79 loss to South Dakota on Monday, committing 17 turnovers and allowing the Coyotes to shoot 51.6 percent from the field.
The Jaguars (0-1) were led by Tidjiane Dioumassi, a preseason all-SWAC First Team selection, who scored 30 points. DaMariee Jones and Brentay Noel also contributed 11 points each, with Jones adding nine rebounds and Noel recording six rebounds and two blocks.
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"It's all about finding the right balance between our new players and those with experience," said Jaguars coach Kevin Johnson.
The Hawkeyes can relate, as they continue to build their team. But after Monday's game, they have a solid foundation to work from.
"I'm proud of how we battled through adversity," Sandfort said. "We found our rhythm and our defense was strong for a long stretch in the second half. It was a team effort and we'll continue to improve. But it's a good feeling to have fought through this and come out on top."
Iowa currently leads the all-time series 2-0, having comfortably won both games on their home court. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2020, with the Hawkeyes securing a 103-76 victory.