IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Jarryd Cole scored a career-high 24 points on Saturday to lead Iowa to a 73-63 victory against N.C. Central.
Iowa (2-4) built a 47-32 lead in the second half, but the Hawkeyes had to hold off a run by NCCU (1-6). The Eagles pulled within six points at 55-49 and 59-53, both times on 3-pointers by Michael Glasker.
But Iowa regained control, leading 65-53 with 3:36 remaining on consecutive baskets by Eric May, Cully Payne and Cole.
Vincent Davis led N.C. Central with 18 points.
Cole suffered a serious knee injury in December 2007, not long after his previous career high of 15 points against Iowa State, and missed the rest of his freshman campaign. He averaged 3.7 points last season and hadn't scored in double figures this year before Saturday.
"It was fun out there," said Cole. "The guys found a way to get me the ball and I did my best to try and score. Credit to them for finding me."
Cole, a 250-pound center, hit 10 of 13 shots from the field and made all four free-throw tries. He grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double in 30 minutes.
Matt Gatens had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Payne added 11 points.
NCCU led 11-5 in the first half, but the Hawkeyes reeled off 11 straight points and never trailed again. Iowa led 30-21 at halftime despite shooting 1 for 11 on 3-point attempts.
Iowa finished 3 of 20 beyond the arc but compensated by making 25 of 36 two-point shots and outrebounding the Eagles 43-22.
"When you give a Big Ten team that many opportunities to burn you, eventually you will get burned," said NCCU coach LeVelle Moton, in his first year as coach at his alma mater.
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter liked the way his club attacked the basket when the 3-pointers weren't falling.
"Make the easy plays. And make it tough on your opponent," Lickliter said. "Hit singles. You're not trying to hit it out of the park all the time. Just hit singles, and eventually you'll have enough to be successful."
N.C. Central finished 4-27 in 2007-08 in its first year as a Division I team and went 4-26 last season. The Eagles will join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the 2010-11 campaign.
"I want it all now, but it's going to require patience," Moton said. "I'm learning. I'm maturing as a head coach."
IOWA 73, N.C. CENTRAL 63
N.C. CENTRAL -- Chasten 3-9 2-2 9, Granger 4-5 1-2 9, Glasker 7-12 0-0 17, Wilkerson 1-5 1-2 3, Davis 5-16 5-6 18, Worthy 0-4 0-0 0, Sherrod II 0-0 0-0 0, Sims 1-2 0-0 2, Sapara 1-1 0-0 3, Manns 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-55 9-12 63.
IOWA -- Cougill 4-7 1-4 9, Cole 10-13 4-4 24, Tucker 0-4 4-4 4, Payne 4-8 2-3 11, Gatens 7-12 0-0 16, Bawinkel 0-4 0-0 0, May 3-8 3-3 9. Totals 28-56 14-18 73.
Halftime--Iowa 30-21. 3-Point Goals--NCCU 8-18 (Glasker 3-4, Davis 3-7, Sapara 1-1, Chasten 1-4, Sims 0-1, Wilkerson 0-1), Iowa 3-20 (Gatens 2-6, Payne 1-4, May 0-2, Tucker 0-4, Bawinkel 0-4). Rebounds--NCCU 22 (Chasten, Davis, Glasker, Wilkerson 4), Iowa 43 (Cole 10). Assists--NCCU 11 (Wilkerson 7), Iowa 18 (Gatens, Payne, Tucker 4). Fouls--NCCU 21, Iowa 13. A--8,433.
