Olaseni, Uthoff lead Iowa past North Dakota St
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa's centers controlled the smaller North Dakota State one half at a time.
Gabe Olaseni had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Adam Woodbury added 10 points and 11 rebounds as Iowa rolled to an 87-56 win over North Dakota State on Monday night.
All of Woodbury's scoring game in the first half. All of Olaseni's points came in the second.
"We had a size advantage and we wanted to get the ball inside," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. "Moving forward, I think it's good. We have to establish that we can run our offense through the post."
Jarrod Uthoff scored 12 points and Aaron White added 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Hawkeyes (2-0).
Lawrence Alexander scored 21 points on 6 of 10 3-point shooting to lead the Bison (0-2).
The Hawkeyes used a 27-2 run in the middle of the game to pull away from North Dakota State.
The Bison shot only 26.9 percent from the floor, including a six-minute scoreless stretch to open the second half.
Woodbury and Olaseni give McCaffery two options at center. McCaffery even played the duo together for a short stretch on Monday.
Olaseni came off the bench to record his fifth career double-double. He shot 4 of 6 from the field, 6 of 8 from the foul line and blocked two shots. All of his 14 points came in the second half.
Woodbury's 11 rebounds tied a career high.
"I didn't know I had it until coach told me," Woodbury said of his first double-double. "A double-double is always good, but I like to think I bring more to the court than stats. I try to impact the game wherever I can."
Anthony Clemmons had 11 points and scored in double figures for the second straight game after reaching it only once last season.
Clemmons hit a career-best three 3-pointers against North Dakota State. The junior is 5 of 6 from 3 in two games this year — one shy from his total all of last season.
The Hawkeyes committed 18 turnovers, but shot 53.6 percent from the field and made 18 of 20 free throws.
North Dakota starters Carlin Dupree, Kory Brown and A.J. Jackson combined to make 4 of 29 field goals.
TIP-INS
Iowa: White made all four of his foul shots to move into fifth on Iowa's all-time free throw made list. White, currently at 434 career free throws, needs 83 to break the school record. The forward made 143 last year.
North Dakota State: The Bison shot a Division I-best 50.5 percent from the field last season. North Dakota State is shooting 35 of 129 (27.1 percent) through the first two games this year.
UP NEXT
Iowa plays No. 10 Texas on Thursday in Madison Square Garden.
North Dakota State hosts Kennesaw State on Friday.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I don't think anybody thought he was going to be a starter. I didn't," McCaffery said of Clemmons. "He just went and got it."
STAT LINES
Iowa had a 45-33 rebounding margin and out-scored North Dakota State 32-12 in the paint.