Iowa City witnessed an electrifying start to Iowa basketball's game against USC Upstate on Tuesday. The Hawkeyes showed no signs of slowing down, quickly establishing a lead that they never relinquished. Owen Freeman's 10-point burst was followed by 14 consecutive points, setting the tone for a dominant victory. In the first half alone, Iowa outscored USC Upstate by 27 points, demonstrating their offensive prowess.

Key Player Performances

After a subpar performance against Utah State, Brock Harding bounced back in a big way. He had a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, marking the second consecutive game where he set a career-high in points. Harding attributed his success to the confidence instilled in him by the coaches and his teammates. "Ever since the summer, the coaches and all the guys on the team have just been telling me to be confident in what I do," he said. "They know I'm a point guard that gets people the ball in open spots, can find shooters, find myself if I need to. They've been preaching to me to be confident in my abilities. And as the season's gone on, I feel like I've gotten more comfortable out there."Another player who had a strong game was Josh Dix. Coming back from a wrist injury, he looked more like his old self, posting 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and adding seven rebounds. Owen Freeman also had a solid performance with 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Drew Thelwell provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, showing his ability to contribute in key moments.

Defensive Struggles and Offensive Resurgence

While Iowa's offense was firing on all cylinders, their defense faced some challenges. Seydou Traore's injury in the first half was a setback for the team. Traore, a transfer from Manhattan, has been a key contributor off the bench and his absence will be felt. After the game, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery revealed that Traore has a "bad" sprained ankle.However, Iowa quickly bounced back on the offensive end. After a dreadful shooting performance against Utah State, where they shot just 19% from deep and 50% from the free throw line, the Hawkeyes shot 61% from the field, 46% from deep, and 80% from the free throw line against USC Upstate. This shooting resurgence was a welcome sight for the team.

Depth and Resilience

Iowa was once again shorthanded against USC Upstate, with Even Brauns and Cooper Koch out. This forced other players to step up, and they did so admirably. Riley Mulvey got more minutes off the bench and scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed three rebounds. Carter Kinsbury also got meaningful playing time and scored five points. "Like I said to you guys a long time ago, I feel comfortable with 13 guys," McCaffery said. "So I'm comfortable playing Mulvey and Kingsbury. They're good players. So next man up."

Looking Ahead

After this win, Iowa gets some much-needed rest before ramping back up for December. Four of their first five contests next month are against power-conference programs, starting with the Big Ten opener against Northwestern on Dec. 3 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The team will need to build on this momentum and continue to perform at a high level as they face tougher competition.Follow Tyler Tachman on X@Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com