Garza scores 33 points; Iowa beats Minnesota
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Jordan Bohannon knew what was his favorite number was on his final box score.
The Iowa senior guard had 19 points and a career-high 14 assists, Luka Garza had 33 points and the No. 5 Hawkeyes (11-2, 5-1 Big Ten) beat No. 16 Minnesota 86-71 on Sunday.
Bohannon also had seven rebounds and zero turnovers in almost 36 minutes.
It was Bohannon’s overall line that impressed Iowa coach Fran Mccaffery.
“He has always really been tremendous in our fast break and in our ability to push it,” Mccaffery said. “From the opening tip today, he was pushing the ball and finding people. I thought his decisions – when to shoot, when to drive, when to move it, when to get it in the post – were tremendous. Practically perfect.”
Joe Wieskamp added 20 points for the Hawkeyes, who avenged a 102-95 overtime loss to the Gophers (10-4, 3-4) on Christmas Day.
“If it wasn’t for Luka making his layups, I wouldn’t have 14 assists,” Bohannon said. “I think that more than 95% of my passes were assists to him.”
Iowa had 27 assists on 31 field goals. “Our guards are really unselfish,” Garza said. “When we get out on transition, that’s when we’re at our best. J-BO was finding me tonight.”
Bohannon missed most of last season because of surgeries on both of his hips. He has scored 74 points in his last four games after totaling 27 in the previous five.
“I’ve been through hell for the last year and a half, two years,” Bohannon said.
No. 19 Virginia Tech 77, Notre Dame 63: Jalen Cone scored 18 points off the bench to lift No. 19 Virginia Tech to a 7763 victory against Notre Dame on Sunday.
Cone connected on 5 of 11 from the floor, including four 3-pointers, as the Hokies (9-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from Wednesday’s loss at Louisville. Virginia Tech has won five of six games and five consecutive home games.
Keve Aluma added 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Hunter Cattoor had 15 points for the Hokies, who held Notre Dame to just two field goals in the second half.