By Dylan Burn

IOWA CITY, Iowa – A lot has been said about Fran McCaffery's loaded frontcourt, but two players could be emerging as the featured attractions for the Iowa men's basketball team: sophomore Tyler Cook and true freshman Luka Garza.

They dominated Thursday's 96-64 exhibition win over Belmont Abbey College at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The 6-foot-9 Cook scored 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out four assists in just 22 minutes of action, while the 6-11 Garza tallied a double-double, scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds in just 21 minutes on the floor.

"They're (Cook and Garza) just both really good players," McCaffery said. "They've been playing together since June, which is a little earlier than you would be normally because we had the four games overseas so this is the sixth game they've played together. They both know how to play, they're both unselfish, they're both strong. Their skill sets compliment each other really well."

Cook and Garza led the charge in the first half, scoring 30 of Iowa's 44 points. And if it weren't for a couple of three-point baskets from Nicholas Baer near the end of the half, Garza and Cook would've virtually been the entire offense. They both were aggressive on offense and used their size to their advantage. 

"I was able to get some easy looks in transition and the guys got me the ball," Cook said. "Stuff was falling tonight, so hopefully, I can do some more of that in the future, when it counts."

Cook made 7-of-12 field-goal attempts, and finished 10-for-16 from the free throw line.

"Tyler played with great pace," McCaffery said. "He waits, then he goes, he just doesn't go. He's not running into packs of people, if the double team comes he's finding people, if he has space he goes. It was great to see him shoot 16 free throws."

Iowa shook off a sluggish start to put the game away in the second half.

Cook showed as a true freshman that he could score and rebound, and he did both of those things again on Thursday. But he also had four assists and zero turnovers, which could be a sign that his game is expanding.

The opportunistic Garza seemed to always be in the right place at the right time in Thursday's exhibition game.

He ended the first half with 13 points and 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. 

"I felt a little more comfortable from the jump," Garza said. "I was just ready to go out there and play hard, so it was a great game."

Garza scored seven of Iowa's first 11 points, and he had two blocks early in the first half.

Sophomore point guard Jordan Bohannon didn't score any points, but he dished out five assists, grabbed four boards and only had one turnover.

Sophomore forward  Cordell Pemsl was the only other Hawkeye to score in double figures with 13 points. Freshman forward Jack Nunge and junior forward Nicholas Baer both scored nine points.

Sophomore guard Isaiah Moss was withheld from Thursday's exhibition game because of a minor ankle injury, which he sustained in the opening seconds of the first exhibition game against William Jewell College last Friday.

Belmont Abbey is coached by former Iowa assistant Billy Taylor. He served as McCaffery's Director of Basketball Operations from 2013-16.

Iowa will begin the regular season against Chicago State next Friday with tip-off set for 8:05 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.