Men's Hoops Takes on No. 24/24 Maryland Saturday

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THE SETTING
Iowa (15-13, 7-8) travels to College Park, Maryland, this weekend to face No. 24/24 Maryland (22-6, 10-5) on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 5:05 p.m. (CT) in the XFINITY Center. 

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, while Bob Hansen provides expert analysis. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Jason Benetti, Jim Calhoun, and Kris Budden will call Saturday’s contest on ESPN2 (WATCHESPN).

GAME #29 STORYLINES
•    Saturday is another Big Ten rematch game for the Hawkeyes. Iowa is 3-1 in rematch games this season. The Hawkeyes beat Rutgers, Purdue, and Nebraska in rematches, but fell to Illinois.
•    Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon is the fourth Big Ten freshman to amass 100+ assists and 60+ 3-pointers in a single-season (Daniel Horton, Melo Trimble, and D’Angelo Russell).
•    Iowa’s Peter Jok scored 15 of Iowa’s 21 overtime points in Tuesday’s win over Indiana. The 15-point effort on overtime was only two points short of the NCAA record for scoring in any OT period. The record of 17 was achieved twice before (Ron Howard of Howard in 2003 and David Hawkins of Temple in 2004).
•    Iowa has amassed 31 Big Ten victories the last three seasons, a total that ranks fifth best behind Wisconsin (39), Maryland (36), Purdue (36), and Michigan State (34).
•    Freshmen Cordell Pemsl, Jordan Bohannon, Tyler Cook, and Isaiah Moss account for 41.7 percent of Iowa’s offense.
•    Peter Jok has scored 30+ points five times this year, a total that ties for the seventh most nationally. Jok ranks 19th in country – fourth among players from Power 5 conferences – in points per game (21.0). He also ranks fourth nationally in free throw accuracy (.921) and 91st in 3-pointers (2.6).
•    Nicholas Baer is one of only two Division I men’s basketball players this season to amass 190+ points, 35+ blocked shots, 35+ steals, and 30+ 3-pointers (Colorado’s Derrick White).
•    Three of Iowa’s top four scorers this season are true freshmen. Tyler Cook is second (11.8), followed by Jordan Bohannon (9.2), and Cordell Pemsl (9.0).
•    Peter Jok has had free throw streaks of 28, 27, 26, and 25 the last two seasons. Jok was six makes from tying Chris Street’s school record of 34 earlier this month. He broke Iowa’s single-game free throw makes record in Iowa’s last outing against Indiana, sinking 22-of-23.
•    Iowa is 8-1 when allowing 70 points or fewer and 6-1 when committing 12 turnovers or less.
•    Jordan Bohannon is one of two freshmen nationally this season with 60 3-pointers and 125 assists (UCLA’s Lonzo Ball). Also, Bohannon owns the Iowa freshman single-season 3-point field goals made record with 60.
•    Peter Jok has made 199 career 3-pointers; he is one shy from becoming the sixth player to make 200 3-pointers at the University of Iowa.
•    After scoring in double figures once in 27 games last year, Brady Ellingson has netted double digits six times this season.

SHARING IS CARING
Iowa has assisted on 110 of its 155 field goals the last four games (71 percent). The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally in assists per game, averaging 17.4 per contest.

HAWKEYES OUTLAST HOOSIERS IN OVERTIME
Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, paced by senior Peter Jok’s 35 points en route to a 96-90 overtime victory over Indiana Tuesday night in Iowa City.
•    Tuesday was only the sixth overtime game played between Iowa and Indiana, and first since 1999, in the 176-game series history. 
•    Iowa outscored Indiana, 39-16, at the free throw line. Peter Jok went a staggering 22-of-23 from the line breaking the 55-year old school record for makes and also establishing a new arena benchmark for attempts.
•    Peter Jok scored 15 of his 35 points in overtime, two points shy of the NCAA record (17) for scoring in any overtime session. Jok became the third Hawkeye to score 30+ points against Indiana the last 20 years, joining Adam Haluska and Matt Gatens.
•    Iowa was 39-of-47 from the free throw line against the Hoosiers. The 39 makes are the most by a Hawkeye team since the 1994 squad made 40 versus Wisconsin. The 47 attempts are the most since Iowa took 49 attempts against Omaha in 2013.
•    Iowa’s defense forced 22 Hoosier turnovers, converting those miscues into 25 points. The Hawkeyes have averaged 20 turnovers-forced over the last three games.
•    Sophomore Christian Williams tallied a personal-best ten points, scoring on 5-of-6 attempts. In addition to scoring nine points, freshman Jordan Bohannon posted team bests in steals (4) and assists (6).
•    Indiana had four players score in double figures: Robert Johnson (19), James Blackmon Jr. (18), Thomas Bryant (12), and Josh Newkirk (11). Blackmon, Johnson, and Newkirk all fouled out of the contest in the overtime session.

SCOUTING NO. 24/24 MARYLAND
•    Maryland enters Saturday’s game 21st in the RPI and 24th in both national polls. The Terrapins have split their last eight games, losing their last two contests (at Wisconsin, vs. Minnesota).
•    Maryland is 12-4 in home games, most recently losing to Minnesota (89-75) on Wednesday evening. The Terrapins are 4-3 at the XFINITY Center during conference play.
•    Four Terrapins average double figures: Melo Trimble (17.4), Justin Jackson (10.8), and Anthony Cowan (10.4).
•    Center Michael Cekovsky, who averages 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds, suffered a season-ending injury at Wisconsin last weekend. Cekovsky will have missed both games this season against the Hawkeyes; the Slovakia native did not play against Iowa last month in Iowa City due to injury.
•    Maryland has two players who have made 50 or more 3-pointers: Melo Trimble (53-of-151, .351) and Kevin Huerter (53-of-143, .371).
•    In Maryland’s last outing against Minnesota on Wednesday, the Gophers shot 50 percent while Maryland shot 41 percent. Also, Minnesota was 17-of-20 from the free throw line compared to 8-of-13 for the Terrapins. Maryland scored 44 of its 75 points in the paint. Ivan Bender paced Maryland scoring 15 points. The backcourt of Melo Trimble and Anthony Cowan combined for 22 points.
•    Maryland ranks 42nd nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.319), 43rd in field goal percentage defense (.409), and 48th in blocked shots (4.7). Individually, Damonte Dodd is 47th in the country in rejections per game (1.95) and 92nd in offensive rebounds (2.76), while Melo Trimble is 80th in free throws made (127) and 97th in free throw attempts (158). Trimble’s 17.3 points per game ranks fourth in the conference.
•    Mark Turgeon is in his sixth season as head coach at Maryland (136-65, .677) and 19th year overall as a head coach (386-224, .633).
•    Iowa assistant coach Sherman Dillard began his coaching career at Maryland, spending six seasons (1979-85) as an assistant coach. Dillard helped coach the Terrapins to four 20-win seasons and five NCAA Tournaments. The 1980, 1984 and 1985 squads reached the Sweet 16, while the 1984 team won the ACC Tournament.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Saturday will be the seventh all-time meeting between Iowa and Maryland. The Terrapins own a 4-2 advantage in the series. The Terrapins have won two straight in the series.
    The first three meetings between Iowa and Maryland were played on neutral floors: Honolulu (1984), Baltimore (1999), and New York City (2013).

LAST MEETING
No. 25 Maryland won for the first time in Iowa City, recording an 84-76 win over the Hawkeyes on Jan. 19, 2017.
•    Iowa erased a 15-point first-half deficit, taking a 72-69 advantage with 3:19 remaining in the contest, but Maryland outscored Iowa 15-4 the final 3:18.
•    Iowa pulled down 40 rebounds, including a season-best 20 offensive rebounds. The Hawkeyes outscored Maryland, 19-7, in second-chance points.
•    The Hawkeye defense forced 21 Maryland turnovers and outscored the Terrapins, 30-19, in points off turnovers.
•    Iowa was 19-of-25 from the free throw line with both Tyler Cook and Ahmad Wagner going 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.
•    Forward Ahmad Wagner tied a career high with 12 points. Senior Peter Jok netted a team-best 14 points and four steals, while freshman Jordan Bohannon contributed 11 points and a team-best five assists and four steals.
•    Four Maryland starters scored in double figures: Melo Trimble (20), Anthony Cowan (15), Justin Jackson (12), and Damonte Dodd (10).

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Melsahn Basabe (Greece), Anthony Clemmons (Austria), Mike Gesell (Denmark), Jarryd Cole (France), Matt Gatens (NBA D-League: Iowa Energy — injured), Devyn Marble (Italy), Gabriel Olaseni (Italy), Darius Stokes (Australia), Jarrod Uthoff (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Aaron White (Russia), and Adam Woodbury (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants).

ROOKIE FLOOR GENERAL
After having two veteran point guards graduate last spring (Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons), Jordan Bohannon has done a fantastic job directing the Hawkeye offense as a freshman. Bohannon ranks first on the team in assists (4.5), second in minutes played (28.4), free throw accuracy (.857) and 3-pointers made (60), and third in scoring (9.2). He has netted 17 or more points in five games and led the squad in assists a team-best 18 times. 
    Bohannon, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6, has led the squad in scoring four times.

NOTABLES ON PETER JOK’S HISTORIC FREE THROW NIGHT
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes versus Indiana on Feb. 21, breaks Don Nelson’s 55-year old school record. Nelson’s previous record of 21 was also set against Indiana in 1962.
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes ties for third most by a player in a single-game in Big Ten history. Indiana’s Greg Graham made 26 in 1993; Indiana’s Don Schlundt made 25 in 1955, and Indiana’s Luke Recker made 22 in 1999.
•    Peter Jok’s 22 free throw’s made are the second most by a player nationally in a game this season (25 by Sindarius Thornwell of South Carolina). Furthermore, the 22 makes tie Xavier Silas (2014) for the third most free throws made in a single-game since 2010 nationally. Teddy Okereafor of Rider (2014) and South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwe (2007) each made 25 in a game.
•    On Feb. 21, 2001, Iowa’s Reggie Evans attempted a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record 22 free throws versus Purdue; 16 years later — also on Feb. 21 — Peter Jok breaks the record by attempting 23 foul shots against the Hoosiers.
•    Not only did Jok’s 22 free throws made establish a new school record, but it shattered the previous Carver-Hawkeye Arena record of 16 by Adam Haluska (2007) and Reggie Evans (2001).
•    Peter Jok currently ranks fourth nationally in free throw percentage (.921), although he has 43 more attempts than any of the top three, and 71 more than leader Phil Forte of Oklahoma State.
•    Peter Jok is on pace to break Iowa’s single-season free throw percentage record currently held by Matt Gatens during the 2008-09 season (.904). He is also on pace to break Iowa’s career percentage mark currently being held by Luke Recker (.873, 185-of-212). Jok’s career percentage is at 88.4 percent and he has taken 123 more free throws than Recker.

PEMSL MAKING THE MOST OF HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS
Freshman Cordell Pemsl has had a great start to his collegiate career. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has started 14 games, while coming off the bench 13 times. In 27 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits 12 times and is averaging nine points and 4.9 rebounds, while shooting a Big Ten-best and 32nd-best nationally 60.7 percent (91-of-150) from the field. He scored in double figures in eight of the 14 starts. 

JOK NAMED FINALIST FOR JERRY WEST, SENIOR CLASS AWARDS
Peter Jok is one of ten finalists for both the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and Senior CLASS Award. 
    The Jerry West Award recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball, while the Senior CLASS Award recognizes an individual with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
    Jok is the Big Ten leading scorer, averaging 20.4 points per game. He has scored 25 points or more nine times this season, including a career-best 42 against Memphis (Nov. 26). In addition to leading the Big Ten in scoring, he is first in free throw accuracy (.915) and second in 3-pointers made per game (2.6).
    Jok and his teammates have assisted each spring in the “Iowa Day of Caring” and is on pace to graduate this spring.

A CLOSER LOOK AT IOWA’S FRESHMEN PRODUCTION
•    Iowa’s six freshmen account for 46.6 percent of Iowa’s offense. The four freshmen who average 16 minutes of more per contest (Cordell Pemsl, Jordan Bohannon, Tyler Cook, and Isaiah Moss) account for 41.7 percent of Iowa’s offense.
•    For the first time in program history, Iowa has had four freshmen score at least 20 points in a game: Tyler Cook (24 vs. Seton Hall); Jordan Bohannon (23 at Notre Dame); Isaiah Moss (21 versus Stetson); Cordell Pemsl (21 versus Stetson). 
•    For the first time in school history, Iowa has had five freshmen reach double figures in scoring in a game: Tyler Cook, Jordan Bohannon, Cordell Pemsl, Ryan Kriener, and Isaiah Moss.
•    Iowa freshmen have accumulated 78 combined starts this season, which ranks second most in program history behind Iowa’s 2013 freshmen class (81 starts).

NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAER
Sophomore Nicholas Baer ranks first on the squad in blocks (1.4) and steals (1.4), second in rebounding (6.0), and is third in assists (1.9). Baer is one of only two Division I players to amass 180+ points, 35+ blocked shots, 35+ steals, and 25+ 3-pointers made (Colorado’s Derrick White).
    Baer’s 37 blocked shots currently ranks third best in a single-season by an Iowa sophomore, three rejections behind Erek Hansen Basabe (40) for second.
    Baer is the only reserve in the Big Ten with 180+ points, 160+ rebounds, 35+ blocked shots, and 35+ steals this season.
    Baer is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in steals (1.4) and is tied for eighth in blocked shots (1.4). The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, has led the team in steals nine times this year, being credited with three steals or more in a game a team-best six times.    
    Baer posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 17, with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. 

NICHOLAS BAER PLAYED OVERSEAS IN AUGUST
Nicholas Baer averaged 8.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and two steals in four games (3-1) overseas on the USA East Coast All-Star Team.
    This marked the sixth consecutive year that a Hawkeye traveled overseas with the USA East Coast basketball team. In 2011, Matt Gatens and Bryce Cartwright traveled overseas; Zach McCabe went in 2012; Jarrod Uthoff was on the roster in 2013; Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury competed in 2014; while Dom Uhl traveled with the team in 2015.

PETER JOK SCORCHING THE NETS
After averaging 7.0 points per game as a sophomore, Peter Jok averaged 16.1 points last year as a junior (+9.1), and is averaging a Big Ten-best 21.0 points this season as a senior (+4.9). The +9.1 improvement last year was tops among Big Ten players.
    Jok returned to the lineup in Iowa’s last five games after missing the previous two games due to injury (back). 
    Jok was named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team, while also being named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Naismith Trophy and John Wooden Award watch lists, and a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. Jok scorched the nets for 42 points against Memphis and 33 against Omaha on Dec. 3. Jok nearly had a triple-double against Stetson (15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and a double-double against No. 25/25 Iowa State (23 points and nine rebounds).
    Jok has been recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season (Nov. 21 and Dec. 12). He averaged 28.5 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists against Seton Hall and UTRGV for the Nov. 21 award. Jok averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in contests versus Stetson and No. 25 Iowa State for the Dec. 12 distinction.
    Jok has had free throw streaks of 28, 27, 26, and 25 the last two seasons. The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993).
    Jok ranks 19th nationally in points per game (21.0), fourth in free throw accuracy (.921), and 91st in 3-pointers made per contest (2.6). His 21.0 scoring average is fourth among players from Power 5 conferences. Jok has scored 25 points or more ten times this year, which ties for tenth nationally.
    Jok is the first Hawkeye with five 30-point games in a season since Adam Haluska (5) in 2006-07.
    Jok has made 199 career 3-pointers, which are the sixth most in program history. He is 13 triples from surpassing Adam Haluska (2005-07) for fifth place with 212.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•    Iowa made 39 free throws against Indiana, a total that ties for third most in a single-game in program history (39 versus Minnesota on Jan. 13, 1993).
•    Iowa is 62-12 when scoring 80 points or more, the last seven seasons. The Hawkeyes are 64-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last seven years.
•    Iowa has scored 90 points or more seven times this season, including its last outing against Indiana on Tuesday in Iowa City (W, 96-90 OT).
•    Ryan Kriener became the 10th different Hawkeye to have reached double figures in a game this season after netting 14 at Northwestern (Jan. 15).
•    Iowa has had four players earn weekly praise by the Big Ten. Peter Jok was named Player of the Week on Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, Isaiah Moss was tabbed Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12, while Jordan Bohannon was Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6.
•    Peter Jok totaled 29 points, six rebounds, and a career-best eight assists vs. No. 17/19 Purdue on Jan. 12. Jok became just the third Big Ten player with at least 29 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in a game versus a ranked foe in the last 20 years (Minnesota’s Nate Mason in 2017 and Denzel Valentine of Michigan State in 2016). Additionally, he is the first Hawkeye to post those numbers in any game since Adam Haluska had 31 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds vs. Coppin State in 2006.
•    Peter Jok poured in 42 points against Memphis on Nov. 26. The 42 points are the most by a Hawkeye in 40 years and tie for the fourth most in a single-game in program history, tying Bruce King’s 42 points against Pittsburgh in 1976.
•    Jordan Bohannon was 7-of-15 from long distance at Notre Dame; the 15 attempts tied Justin Jackson for the second most 3-point attempts in a single-game in Iowa history.
•    Peter Jok tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record against Omaha, making all 12 free throw attempts. The perfect 12-of-12 mark tied Luke Recker (2001 vs. Kansas State), Val Barnes (1992 vs. Ohio State), and Roy Marble (1988 vs. Northern Iowa).
•    Iowa played in back-to-back overtime games (Michigan and Nebraska) for the first time since Dec. 25 and Dec. 27, 1984.
•    Iowa surpassed the century mark for the 97th time in program history with a 116-84 win over Savannah State on Nov. 13. The 116 points equal the seventh most points in a game in school history and are the most points by a Big Ten team this season.
•    Iowa posted school records in 3-pointers made (18) and attempted (43) in its victory over Savannah State on Nov. 13.
•    Iowa made all 13 of its free throw attempts at No. 15 Purdue on Dec. 28. The last time a Hawkeye team made all of its free throws (min. 10 attempts) was at Virginia (15-of-15) in the NIT quarterfinals on March 27, 2013.
•    Isaiah Moss was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12. It marked the first time a rookie Hawkeye was honored by the conference office since Nicholas Baer on Dec. 21, 2015.
•    Peter Jok joined Reggie Evans (twice) and Aaron Fuller as the only Hawkeyes to post 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a single game the last 20 years. Jok totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds against Seton Hall (Nov. 17). His efforts earned the team captain Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 21.
•    Peter Jok scored 27 points in Iowa’s opener versus Kennesaw State. The 27 points are the most by a Hawkeye in a season opener since Adam Haluska poured in 29 against The Citadel in 2006. 
•    Freshman Tyler Cook (10) joined Aaron White as the only two players to grab 10 or more rebounds in their first game as a Hawkeye in the past 20 years.
•    The 183 points in the Iowa-Nebraska double overtime game on Jan. 5 are the most points scored in the 28-game series history.
•    Iowa athletic teams swept Iowa State in four competitions Dec. 7-10 (women’s basketball, men’s basketball, women’s swimming, and wrestling). The Hawkeyes lead the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, 14-7. With only three athletic events remaining, Iowa has clinched the series for 2016-17.
•    Iowa has won 44 of its last 47 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•    The Hawkeyes won 22 games, tied for third in the Big Ten, and won an NCAA Tournament game each of the last two seasons.
•    Iowa has competed in postseason play the last five years (NCAA 2014-16; NIT 2012-13).
•    Iowa has won 20 or more games in four straight seasons – its longest streak in 15 years.

HAWKEYES IN OVERTIME
The Hawkeyes have played four overtime games this season (Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana), two of which were in double overtime (Nebraska, Minnesota); it marks the first time since the 2013-14 season (Xavier, Villanova, Michigan State, and Tennessee)
    Iowa is 2-2 in overtime games, winning two in a season for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

HAWKEYES SWEPT BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Peter Jok and Isaiah Moss were named Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, on Dec. 12. It marked the first time Iowa swept the weekly men’s basketball accolades (weekly freshman honors began in 2010).
    Jok collected the third Big Ten weekly honor of his career and second this season. Jok helped lead the Hawkeyes to a pair of victories over Stetson (95-68) and No. 25 Iowa State (78-64). He averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in the two contests. 
    In Iowa’s upset over 25th-ranked Iowa State, Jok lead all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and nine rebounds. Against Stetson, the team captain flirted with a triple-double recording 15 points, eight rebounds, and dishing out a career-high seven assists without committing a turnover.
    Moss (6-5, 205 pounds) earned his first conference weekly recognition after averaging 17.5 points and five rebounds in Iowa’s two victories. The native of Chicago scored nine of his 14 points in the second half to help Iowa upend the 25th-ranked Cyclones. 
    Moss tallied personal bests in scoring (21), steals (2), and rebounds (6) in the Hawkeyes’ triumph over Stetson. The shooting guard shot at a 50 percent clip from 3-point range in the two games (6-of-12), including going 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from long distance against the Hatters.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,734 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,608-1,126 (.588). Iowa’s 1,608 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,028-359 (.741) record in home games, a 576-764 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 759-765 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 433-133 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

BAER NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Nicholas Baer is a nominee for the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. 
    This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.
    College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism.