MOLINE, ILL. — Owen Freeman had an impressive performance scoring 21 points and collecting 11 rebounds, which brought him just one point short of matching his career best. The Iowa Hawkeyes showcased their strength with a solid late-game push to secure a 76-66 victory against Washington State on Friday night.

Accompanying Freeman’s notable contribution, Payton Sandfort added 18 points to the scoreboard for Iowa, who now stands at a commendable 4-0 this season. The Hawkeyes had previously seen a 5-0 start in the 2022-23 season, along with 7-0 and 6-0 beginnings in the years prior.

Nate Calmese emerged as a bright spot for Washington State, scoring an impressive 27 points. Additionally, LeJaun Watts contributed with a double-double, notching 11 points and 10 rebounds in the match.

With the game tightly contested, Drew Thelwell of Iowa sank two 3-pointers in succession around a shot from Washington State’s Ethan Price, which allowed the Hawkeyes to take a narrow 63-62 lead. In the final minute and twelve seconds, Payton and Pryce Sandfort both converted four successful free throws apiece, while Freeman added another two, pushing Iowa ahead as Washington State failed to convert any of their last seven shot attempts.

Washington State had a slight edge going into halftime, leading 36-33, but the second half proved to be pivotal for Iowa as they adjusted and capitalized on opportunities.

Both squads faced challenges from beyond the arc throughout the night, with Iowa shooting only 32% (8 of 25) and Washington State struggling even further at just 18% (5 of 28).

This game marked just the second meeting between Iowa and Washington State, with their first encounter occurring back on December 30, 1963, where Iowa also emerged victorious with a score of 74-66 in Pullman, Washington.