Driven by two sensational second-half performances, Iowa basketball senior forward Payton Sandfort has been honored as the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week.
After being held scoreless in the first half of Iowa’s Jan. 7 win over Nebraska, Sandfort erupted for all of his career-high tying 30 points in the second half and in overtime versus the Huskers. It was the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a single half since Luka Garza poured in 27 in the first half at Michigan in 2019.
That sparked Iowa to an eventual 97-87 overtime win over Nebraska that featured the Hawkeyes rallying from a 15-point deficit.
Then, Sandfort delivered déjà vu on Saturday night against Indiana. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime in the Hawkeyes’ 85-60 blowout win over the Hoosiers.
Sandfort tallied his sixth 20-point outing of the season in the Hawkeyes’ win over Indiana. Iowa’s victory over the Hoosiers was the largest in the series since 1996.
In the two games, Sandfort combined to shoot 15-of-27, including 10-of-19 from 3-point range. The Waukee, Iowa, product averaged 26.5 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the Hawkeyes’ two wins.
Sandfort is now averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game on the season. Sandfort is also averaging 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 41.3% from the field, 35.2% from 3-point range and 87.9% from the free throw line.
Iowa (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) returns to action with a Tuesday date at USC (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) at 9:30 p.m. CT on FS1. Then, Iowa squares off against UCLA (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten) on Friday night at 8 p.m. on FS1.
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