The Hawkeyes equaled a school record with 15 3-point baskets in an 80-51 rout of Prairie View A&M at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa’s highest point total and biggest margin of victory since the 2006-07 season.
“Our job was to come out and do the things coach has taught us, and that is what we did,” said Anthony Tucker, who buried six of 11 shots from behind the arc on his way to a 20-point game. “That is the best way we can help, by taking care of business here.”
Lickliter’s two sons who are involved with the program, redshirt freshman guard John Lickliter and graduate manager Garrett Lickliter, also were absent from the game to join other family members at the hospital.
Team physician Dr. Brian Wolf made a brief statement after the game, indicating Lickliter had undergone “a medical procedure” earlier in the day at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
“Everything went extremely well. He will be in the hospital for the day or two as he begins his recovery,” said Wolf, a Rock Island Alleman graduate.
Wolf said he “did not perform the operation,” and declined to discuss additional details, saying further information likely would be available in a few days.
Lickliter has been dealing with some health issues in recent weeks.
Migraine headaches that bothered him during his team’s trip to the CBE Classic in Kansas City, Mo., led to a hospital visit on Thanksgiving Day and Lickliter missed a teleconference on Friday while undergoing tests at University Hospitals.
Those tests led to hospitalization and Saturday’s procedure.
Players were informed of Lickliter’s situation during the team’s shoot around several hours before the game.
Assistant coach Chad Walthall served as interim coach on Saturday, but said it has not yet been determined when Lickliter will return or if he will return for Tuesday’s game at Northern Iowa.
“I thought the players and coaches did as good of a job as we could with our leader gone,” Walthall said.
“The plan was in place and ready and the players went out and executed. It was a group effort. My job was to manage the game, Joel Cornette did a great job with the scouting report, (LaVall Jordan) did a great job calling certain sets.”
On the court, the Hawkeyes quickly took care of business.
Iowa buried eight of its 3-point baskets during the first half and outscored Prairie View A&M 31-10 over the game’s first 15 minutes to build a lead that went unchallenged.
Tucker buried three straight shots from behind the arc with just under 9 minutes left in the half to nearly double the 17-7 lead the Hawkeyes (3-5) had built midway through the opening half.
Iowa led 39-15 at the break, and the Panthers (3-4) were unable to come any closer than 16 points during a second half that saw the Hawkeyes’ lead reach as many as 33 points.
Iowa items
- Eric May recorded his first collegiate double-double while making his first start for the Hawkeyes. May finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds as he replaced Brennan Cougill in the lineup. Cougill had missed two late-week practices because of illness.
- Aaron Fuller saw his most extensive action since spraining an ankle in Iowa’s Nov. 20 win over Bowling Green and finished with eight points in 19 minutes.
- Devan Bawinkel attempted — and hit — the first two free throws he has shot in his two seasons with the Hawkeyes.
- The Hawkeyes play a pair of road games this week, beginning with a 7 p.m. game Tuesday at Northern Iowa.
Comments
Chuck wrote on Dec 6, 2009 6:35 AM:
" I don't know Brian what does that tell you? I thought the kids played hard. Remember this is a young team and with what we have now and what is coming in next year. We will get back to the level of play in the big ten. "
Maranda wrote on Dec 7, 2009 1:11 PM:
:) "