Matt Gatens scored 20 points while Jaryd Cole had 19 and Eric May added 18 as the Iowa Hawkeyes beat South Carolina State 82-69 in their final pre-conference contest. Gatens made 4-6 from three point range as he continues to shoot the ball well. Gatens says his shots are starting to fall and that got going at UNI and he says that makes it easier.
The Hawkeyes took control with a 9-0 run in the opening half and the connected on 57 percent of their shots. Iowa coach Todd Lickliter says they got contributions from everyone and in stretches played as well as they have all year. The Hawks take a 5-7 record into the start of Big Ten play.
Lickliter did not say when or even if Anthony Tucker will rejoin the squad. The sophomore guard was suspended following his arrest over the weekend for public intoxication. It was his second alcohgol related offense in a little more than a year. Lickliter says everyone needs to step back and see how Tucker can get things straightened out.
Lickliter says Tucker’s future with the program will be decided at a later date. He says they will help Tucker make the best decision for him and Lickliter says he does not have the answer at this point as to what that might be, but they will come up with it.