Jok, Iowa overtake Kennesaw State 91-74

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Peter Jok isn't shy about finding a shot. He's going to get plenty of them this season.

Jok scored 27 points on 11 of 19 shooting in 26 minutes and Iowa throttled Kennesaw State 91-74 on Friday night.

Ahmad Wagner had 12 points and four blocks for the Hawkeyes, who are looking to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season under Fran McCaffery.

Jok - expected to be one of the top scorers in the Big Ten after Iowa lost four of its top five scorers from last season - reached the 20-point mark for the 12th time in his career against Kennesaw State. The senior averaged 16.1 points per game last year.

McCaffery said no shot that Jok takes is a bad shot for the Hawkeyes.

''Sometimes I'm selfish,'' Jok said, ''but at the end of the day it's about the win. If I have to take 30 shots that's what I'm going to do.''

Iowa built a 43-25 halftime lead and appeared to be on its way to a blowout win before Kennesaw State opened the second half on a 16-6 run that cut the lead to 49-41.

But the Hawkeyes settled down and scored the next seven to secure the win in their season opener.

Nick Masterson scored a career-high 29 points on 7 of 10 3-point shots for Kennesaw State. Ray Kendrick added 12 points.

Cordell Pemsl and Nicholas Baer each scored 10 points for Iowa.

BIG PICTURE

Iowa: This is clearly Jok's team after the Hawkeyes lost their four other starters from last season's team that won a game in the NCAA Tournament. The second and third scorers may change on a nightly basis with Iowa's depth. McCaffery used nine players in the first seven minutes against the Owls.

Kennesaw State: The Owls, picked to finish in the bottom half of the Atlantic Sun, showed grit in the second half when they cut Iowa's lead to single digits. It's a good sign for Al Skinner's team in his second year leading the program.

FRESHMAN STANDOUT

Highly touted freshman Tyler Cook had six points and 10 rebounds - only the second Hawkeye freshman in the last 20 years with double-digit rebounds in their debut.

Cook showed some nerves, shooting just 1 of 7 from the field and committing four turnovers. McCaffery isn't worried and said Cook was just trying to force things early.

HIGHLIGHT REEL

Iowa's best play of the night started when Wagner made a big block in the paint midway through the first half. Jok scooped up the rebound and dribbled down the sideline before he threw a beautiful alley-oop pass to point guard Christian Williams for the two-handed dunk in transition.

HE SAID IT

''This guy is (expletive) killing us. Who's going to guard him?'' McCaffery barked at his team during a timeout after Masterson hit two open 3s to start the second half. McCaffery could be heard at least 12 rows up from the Iowa bench.

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts Savannah State on Sunday for the Tigers' second game in the state this weekend. Iowa State thumped Savannah State 113-71 on Friday.

Kennesaw State hosts Brewton-Parker on Monday, which will be one of only three home games the Owls play between now and mid-December.