Iowa Hawkeyes guard Devyn Marble (4) puts up a shot against Indiana State Sycamores guard Devonte Brown (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the NIT Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Hawkeye fans far and wide are declaring men’s basketball back in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes put on a show for a sold-out crowd with a first-round 68-52 NIT victory over Indiana State Wednesday night.

“Got a young team and I think we have a bright future,” said Brian Ahlstrom, a Hawkeye fan from Waukon. “I guess I’m one of the eternal optimists.”

The Hawkeyes will be back in action Friday night, when they host a second-round game against Stony Brook, starting at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU. It will likely be the second consecutive sellout at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“It’s amazing that they sell out in two days in the middle of spring break, because a lot of people are gone,” said Dan Wilkerson, general manager at the Vine in Coralville. The Vine filled up prior to Wednesday’s game, with Hawkeye fans establishing their presence hours before tip-off.

Wednesday’s sellout was the fifth of the season for the Hawkeyes, the most in nearly a decade at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.