Hawkeyes Hosting K-State in NIT

Iowa Draws Big 12 Opponent in Tournament's 1st Round

Iowa Basketball found out its NIT assignment Sunday night. The Hawkeyes were awarded a three seed and will play host to Kansas State Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (8 PM, ESPN). 

The winner of the contest will face the survivor of the Utah-UC Irvine first-round matchup in Salt Lake City. The Hawkeyes would host Round 2 if Irvine emerges and are on the road otherwise. 

Iowa and Kansas State have split eight previous meetings. The Hawkeyes won the last two matchups, including the most recent one, a 65-63 decision in 2008 during a pre-conference tournament in Las Vegas. 

The Hawkeyes head into the NIT ranked 62nd in the NCAA NET rankings, while K-State sits at 70. Iowa is 8-12 in Quad 1 and 2 games, while the Wildcats are 9-13. 

Kansas State (19-14 overall, 8-10 Big 12) lost its only other game against a Big Ten team this season. Nebraska knocked it off, 62-46, on Dec. 17 in Manhattan. The Hawkeyes won their lone meeting with the Huskers, 94-76, on Jan. 12 in Iowa City. 

The Wildcats did not place any players on the three all-Big 12 teams this winter. The trio of Tylor Perry (15.5 PPG), Arthur Kaluma (14.7) and Cam Carter (14.6) are the leading scorers with Kaluma's 7.1 rebounds a contest topping the team. 

Jerome Tang led K-State to last year's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in his first season at the helm. He arrived in Manhattan after spending five campaigns as Baylor's associate head coach. 

Iowa season ticket holders and I-Club contributors can order NIT tickets prior to the general public until 10 a.m. on Monday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for UI students and youth.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Monday at I-800-IA-HAWKS or online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.