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Iowa Bounces back with 95-68 win over Stetson

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Iowa City IA- Things have not been going well for the Iowa Men’s Basketball Team lately, who were losers of there last four before coming into Monday night game against Stetson. But the Iowa Hawkeyes (4-5) turned up the defensive intensity to get a 95-68 win over the  Stetson Hatters (4-6).

The Hatters shot 35% for the whole game and only shot 30% in second half. “That was a total team effort on the defensive side of the floor,” McCaffery said. “The players on floor along with the guys on the bench had the energy we need to bring every single game.”

The Hawkeyes are a very young team with only one returning starter from last year. But last night, two young players stepped up. Isaiah Moss and Cordell Pemsl led the way for Iowa with 21 points each.

Moss, who is a red shirt freshman, was feeling it from behind the three point line. He started off 4-4 and finished the game 5-8 from downtown to spark the Iowa offense. “I had a lot of confidence tonight,” Moss stated. “Coach (McCaffery) kept telling me to be a scorer and keep shooting.”

Down in the paint, Pemsl was getting whatever he wanted. Whether it was a 10 foot jumper or getting to rim, Pemsl was getting it done. But in the second half, Pemsl went up for a rebound and landed very awkwardly on his right leg. He was in pain, slamming his fist on the floor and didn’t look good for the true freshman who was helped off the floor and in to the locker room. Luckily the injury was not serious.

After the game Pemsl talked about the injury. “It is sore right now but they had me doing exercises in the hallway and the leg felt fine,” Pemsl said. “I actually thought I was going back into the game.”

While that was a positive sign for the Hawkeyes, another positive sign is the play from Nicholas Baer off the bench. He contributed 20 minutes, scoring 7 points and 5 rebounds including a one handed slam in the second half. Baer was taking out of the starting lineup for this game and McCaffery liked the way Baer approached this situation. “I love his attitude and the way he competes,” McCaffery said. “He is the type of player that will do anything the team needs.”

Up next for the Iowa is #25 Iowa State. That game tips off from Carver on Thursday at 7:00 PM.