Iowa
Sandfort & Perkins come up big for Hawkeyes in 88-78 victory over Michigan
It wasn’t easy for the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-8, 4-5) in their quest to get back over .500 in conference against a meandering Michigan Wolverines squad (7-13, 2-7). They used a surge around halftime (8-2 before the break, 10-0 out of it) to pull ahead and never look back in an 88-78 win. Payton Sandfort tied a career high with 26 points on 10/14 shooting including 6/8 from deep and six boards. Tony Perkins continued his great run of play with 24 points on 9/12 shooting, five assists, and three steals.
Defensively, Iowa shored up in the second half, holding the Wolverines to 34 points on 28% shooting. Rebounding remains a struggle for this team – Michigan had 13 offensive rebounds, 10 in the second half – but Iowa rallied well to limit the damage and gave up just 10 second chance points.
Great bounce back from Sandfort
Sandfort was targeted after Iowa’s loss to Maryland (most notably by himself) after yielding an uncontested layup in the waning seconds of the game. To come up the way he did…. just big time. Iowa struggled in prior games scoring inside of 5:00 and he became The Guy with 7 of Iowa’s final 11 points and the last two baskets. I absolutely LOVED his isolation against Tarris Reed, Jr where he blew past him for a bucket in the lane. Just an incredible amount of confidence.
His performance came with a heavy heart though, as he revealed his grandmother passed the day of the Maryland game. This news provides a different backdrop to his teary pledge to himself & teammates on Wednesday.
Owen Freeman continues push for Freshman of the Year
It looked like it could be a long night for Freeman, as Reed took it right to the Hawkeye with a couple early baskets, including a powerful dunk. The freshman settled into the game by blocking Reed and then making back-to-back dunks for the Hawkeyes. He finished with 15 points & 9 rebounds with three blocks. He played 36 minutes as Ben Krikke battled foul trouble of his own and Fran had to lean on the freshman. He also went 5/5 from free throws as Iowa was a perfect 18/18 overall.
There are still some growing pains but the activity & ability he provides continue to be a huge boon to this team & program.
Ladji Dembele returns
The other freshman big had an … interesting 11 minutes on the court. First off, he didn’t look like he had a gnarly ankle injury a week earlier. In a span of 2:22, he had an offensive rebound, jumper against Michigan’s zone, errant three against Michigan, and an intentional foul on Reed. “Gordy Howe hat trick”-y, in my opinion. He had a block in the second half and two quick fouls but overall…I kind of liked his minutes! Iowa just has not had a tantalizing prospect who combines the athleticism alongside “no no no yes!” that we get from this kid. When the game slows down for him, watch out. I’m buying stock.
In his second game after an injury, I thought Patrick McCaffery looked active in his bench role. Sure, he went just 1/5 from the field but he really didn’t take anything away from the game in his time on the floor. I thought he was active enough as a rebounder – he had just one but did not leak out like he tends to do – and used his length well on defense. Iowa extended their lead to 10 down the stretch with him on the floor alongside Josh Dix, Perkins, Sandfort, and Freeman.
Again, this wasn’t a particularly good Michigan team but it was a road win against a team Iowa had lost to earlier in the season. The Maryland loss looks like the anomaly among the last six performances and the Hawks have five very winnable games coming up. The first is against a … spotty … Hoosier squad who are riding a three game losing streak and also sit at 4-5 in conference. Just a yucky conference in a yucky year for men’s college basketball.
Next up: Tuesday, 1/30 at Indiana, 6:00p CT on Big Ten Network
Iowa
17-year-old sought for attempted murder in mass shooting near University of Iowa: police
Police are seeking a 17-year-old on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus, authorities said Wednesday.
Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students. One woman remained in critical condition Wednesday after sustaining a life-threatening injury to her head, Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said.
Officials said an arrest warrant was issued for the 17-year-old who was allegedly engaged in the fight, adding that reports indicate as many as 40 people may have been involved. Officers had been dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds, Liston said.
After walking away from the other participants, the suspect allegedly fired six times into the crowded pedestrian area, Liston said. Iowa City’s downtown pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
The minor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will initially be charged as an adult, as is required by Iowa law for forcible felony charges against an individual aged 16 or older, said Rachel Zimmermann Smith, Johnson County attorney.
The charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, will be brought when the suspect is apprehended, she said.
Liston said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. About three dozen search warrants have already been executed.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he said, adding that anyone with information on the incident or the suspect are encouraged to come forward.
The five victims were not “targets of the shooting,” Liston said. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”
Liston also provided details about the other four victims’ injuries, including one struck in the arm and chest, two struck in one or both legs and one in the side of their stomach. One is still hospitalized in stable condition and three have been released, he said.
Iowa
Wrongful death suit filed for prospective Univ. of Iowa student killed in car crash
CHATHAM, Ill. (KCRG) – The families of four children and a teenager killed after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, just short of a year after the tragic accident.
The teenager killed, 18-year-old camp counselor Rylee Britton, of Springfield, planned to attend the University of Iowa and would have been finishing her freshman year.
The April 28 accident at YNOT Camp also claimed the lives of 7-year-olds Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, and 8-year-olds Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson. Lund spent five weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
At least six other children were severely injured, and numerous children witnessed the accident.
The crash happened after Marianne Akers, 44, veered off of a county highway, traveled through a cornfield and drove straight through the building. Akers was not charged after an investigation found that she was having a medical episode during the crash, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday, names YNOT Camp, as well as Akers, responsible for their deaths. They claim the building violated multiple safety codes when it was built and was not suitable to protect its occupants.
Legal representatives are holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the lawsuit.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on offense, defense development
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on how the Cyclones offense and defense is developing.
After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.
He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.
According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.
Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.
Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments
As of April 21
- Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
- Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
- Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
- Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
- Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
- Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
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