Iowa, Payton Sandfort calms down and records a season-opening win

Hawkeyes defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67, with the top seed nearly posting a triple-double

IOWA CITY — He was nervous. Seriously.

It was Payton Sandfort’s 103rd career game for the Iowa Hawkeyes, but this one hit differently.

After entering the NBA draft last summer, then withdrawing and returning to college basketball for another season, Monday night’s opening game against Texas A&M-Commerce at Carver-Hawkeye Arena left the senior forward feeling nervous. Believe it or not.

“It was a long night last night,” Sandfort said after a second-half surge gave Iowa an 89-67 win. “Being in Carver and playing with my brother is one of my favorite things in the world. For me it was a very special moment to be back. I see my parents there again (on the sidelines). There have been some dark days over the last few months, so being back home and playing in front of the home state was really special for me.”

Sandfort flirted with a triple-double and finished with game-highs of 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. He also blocked three shots.

That came after a less-than-inspiring start from him and his teammates, as Iowa led by just three under eight at the timeout. Sandfort only scored when he converted a shot with 6:03 left in the first half.

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery even took him out of the lineup at one point to let him rest.

“I didn’t expect that,” McCaffery said. “He never really played like that, even as a freshman. I just think he really wants to lead this team. He really wants to do well and puts a lot of pressure on himself. Then we fought early, nothing fell down, we turned it over a couple of times, they got a couple of second shots, putbacks. We couldn’t get a loose ball.

“But he held it together for everyone. Not surprised.”

Iowa extended its lead to seven points at halftime thanks to a 13-0 run sparked by a press defense that turned Commerce over and led to transition shots. Morehead State graduate Drew Thelwell was instrumental in the application.

He finished the game with 10 points in 17 minutes and appears to give the Hawkeyes a true second lead guard alongside Brock Harding.

“He’s been playing like that lately,” McCaffery said. “One of the things that happened to him when he came here was that we played differently than at his previous place. They were a set-play team, he was always on top, demanding the ball, calling a set, executing a set. We don’t play like that. We go. He’s very capable, it’s not that he can’t play like that. I would argue he plays better this way. That’s why we recruited him from the portal in the first place.

“So I think he’s feeling more comfortable. And I think he’s having fun. You can see that he is having fun. He can influence a game on both sides.”

Pryce Sandfort also had a stronger and improved game, scoring 13 points off the bench. He was one of five double-digit scorers for Iowa, along with his brother Owen Freeman (15) and Josh Dix (10).

Iowa had 23 assists, which was attributed to ball movement in the halfcourt. Khaliq Abdul-Mateen led Commerce with 12 points.

“I just didn’t feel like we had a lot of energy (in the first half),” Pryce Sandfort said. “We did it in the second half.”

“I’m glad we overcame some adversity,” Payton Sandfort said. “We really found our way, the defense was really good for most of the second half. I’m proud of the way many people contributed. It was great.”

Second-year forward and Manhattan transfer Seydou Traore did not play Monday night because of a bump wheel, according to McCaffery. Traore wore a hiking boot on his right foot.

He may or may not play Thursday night when Iowa hosts Southern University at 7 p.m

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