LUKE MEREDITH AP Sports Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Devyn Marble scored a season-high 30 points as Iowa beat Northern Iowa 80-73 Saturday in the inaugural Big Four Classic. Freshman Mike Gesell added a career-best 23 points for the Hawkeyes (9-2), who have won four in a row after a brief two-game skid in late November. Iowa buried a season-high nine 3-pointers in the first half alone, jumping ahead 40-32. The Panthers stayed within a few possessions for much of the second half but couldn't quite erase Iowa's lead. Deon Mitchell had 23 points to lead Northern Iowa (6-4), whose losses have come against Louisville, Stanford, Memphis and the Hawkeyes. Published:

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Devyn Marble scored a season-high 30 points as Iowa beat Northern Iowa 80-73 Saturday in the inaugural Big Four Classic.

Freshman Mike Gesell added a career-best 23 points for the Hawkeyes (9-2), who have won four in a row after a brief two-game skid in late November.

Iowa buried a season-high nine 3-pointers in the first half alone, jumping ahead 40-32. The Panthers stayed within a few possessions for much of the second half but couldn't quite erase Iowa's lead.

Deon Mitchell had 23 points to lead Northern Iowa (6-4), whose losses have come against Louisville, Stanford, Memphis and the Hawkeyes.