IOWA CITY, Iowa– The University of Iowa men’s basketball team defeated Georgia Tech, 81-65, on Tuesday night on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa moved to 6-1 on the season.
Junior Kris Murray finished with a career-high 31 points and 20 rebounds to go along with four assists and two blocks on the night. Murray drilled four of Iowa’s nine total 3-pointers against the Yellow Jackets en route to his fourth double-double of the season.
Murray racked up 15 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a block in the first half to secure an early Hawkeye advantage. Iowa led by as much 14 points in the first 20 minutes and headed into the locker room up, 40-29, at the break.
The Yellow Jackets started the second half on a, 7-0, scoring run, but the period belonged to the Hawkeyes from there. Following the first media timeout of the half, Murray posted the next eight Iowa points on three straight possessions to help rebuild the Iowa lead.
Fifth-year Filip Rebrača was next for Iowa offensively, putting up 13 points and seven rebounds on the contest. Junior Tony Perkins finished with 11 points, three assists, two rebounds and one block.
Graduate student Connor McCaffery scored 10 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc, while hauling in 10 rebounds for a double-double of his own.
Redshirt junior Patrick McCaffery contributed nine points, three boards and a block.
Iowa won on the glass, 44-35, and posted 21 assists on 27 field goals for the game.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH FRAN MCCAFFERY
“[Kris Murray] had two double-doubles down in Florida, so I wasn’t concerned with how he would respond… The really impressive thing about the rebounding, with Kris, is that six offensive rebounds in the first half were a big difference in this game. We were struggling shooting the ball, and he went back and got it six times. Now the other thing is, a lot of guys can get 30, but very few people are going to get 20. Most guys who are getting 30 [points] aren’t rebounding, so I think that is impressive.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Iowa has now won eight of its last 10 ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, including five straight at home.
- Kris Murray recorded his fourth double-double in five games, reaching double-digit rebounds and points in the first 13:15 of the game. Murray finished the contest with 31 points and career bests in rebounds (20) and assists (4). Murray has netted 20+ points four of the last six contests.
- The last Hawkeye to total 30+ points and 15+ rebounds in a game was Luka Garza at Minnesota on Dec. 25, 2020 (32 points; 17 rebounds).
- The last time a Hawkeye pulled down 20 or more rebounds in a game was Kris’ brother Keegan versus N.C. Central on Nov. 16, 2021. Tonight’s 20-rebounding performance marks the 25th time in program history that the feat was accomplished.
- Murray’s 31 points and 20 rebounds are both the most by a Hawkeye in an ACC Challenge game. The 20 rebounds tie Justin Champagnie (Pitt in 2020) for the most by any player in a Challenge game and are the most by any Big Ten player.
- Connor McCaffery posted his first career double-double (10 points; 10 rebounds). The 10 rebounds are a season best for the Hawkeye senior.
- Tonight’s victory was Fran McCaffery’s No. 499 as a head coach.
- Iowa has won 81 of its last 86 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
- Iowa improved to 2-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets.
- Tonight was the second of three games against ACC opponents over a span of 12 days (Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke).
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to the hardwood on Tuesday, Dec. 6, versus Duke in the Jimmy V Classic in New York City. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 8:30 p.m. (CT) at Madison Square Garden.
