Iowa (7-0) wins a low-scoring “rock fight” style of game over Grand Canyon (4-3) on Wednesday night to capture the Acrisure Classic championship from Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif.
While the Hawkeyes struggled offensively for the most part in the second half, sophomore guard Isaia Howard and senior guard Bennett Stirtz led the way to close out the Antelopes down the stretch.
While Stirtz finished with 13 points, Howard had himself a season-best performance with 19 points on 7-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Howard would add a career-high-tying six rebounds, along with 1 block and 1 steal to his impressive night as well.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes stifled the Lopes, forcing 19 turnovers, including 7 steals and 2 blocks.
With Iowa beginning Big Ten conference play next against a highly skilled No. 12 Michigan State (6-0) squad from Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 2, the Hawkeyes will be tasked with figuring out a way to slow the high-flying Spartans.
Final: Iowa 59, Grand Canyon 46
IN HEAVEN, THERE IS NO BEER!
Hawkeyes Win the Acrisure Series!
3:23 2nd Half: Iowa 51, Grand Canyon 37
Iowa is pulling away now as Stirtz and Howard have taken over the game.
5:47 2nd Half: Iowa 44, Grand Canyon 35
After review, the challenge is unsuccessful. Iowa possession and Grand Canyon have lost a timeout and one of their challenges.
5:47 2nd Half: Iowa 44, Grand Canyon 35
Grand Canyon calls a timeout to challenge a call on the floor that was ruled Iowa possession following the ball deflecting out of bounds.
7:35 2nd Half: Iowa 42, Grand Canyon 33
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Offenses for both teams are struggling to score, which bodes well for the Hawkeyes. However, there is a lingering concern as Grand Canyon is starting to figure things out offensively.
Iowa will need to wake up on offense in order to counter a potential late run by the Lopes.
11:59 2nd Half: Iowa 37, Grand Canyon 27
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While Iowa has not added much on offense as of late, the Hawkeyes’ defense is absolutely suffocating the Lopes in the second half.
The lone worry for the Hawkeyes is a late surge by the Lopes that can get the pro-Grand Canyon crowd excited.
15:32 2nd Half: Iowa 35, Grand Canyon 23
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While the lead remains the same since the last stoppage, Iowa is frustrating Grand Canyon’s offensive attack by forcing the Lopes to take low-percentage shots and make uncharacteristic decisions with the ball.
Grand Canyon has not scored since there were 2:34 remaining in the first half.
17:52 2nd Half: Iowa 35, Grand Canyon 23
Grand Canyon Timeout.
Lopes calls a timeout after Iowa has stormed out of the halftime break with an efficient offensive rhythm and a stifling defense.
First Half Flicks
Halftime: Iowa 30, Grand Canyon 23
Iowa survived a slow start to take its biggest lead of the game into the locker room. Cooper Koch has seven points and six rebounds to lead the way for the Hawkeyes, while Kael Combs and Isaia Howard have six points, and Bennett Stirtz has chipped in five.
The Iowa defense has settled in after a slow start and is playing really well right now. This is going to be a rock fight.
1:37 1st Half: Iowa 28, Grand Canyon 23
A common foul on the Lopes is currently under review late in the first half. It will remain a common foul, and the Hawkeyes will shoot a pair of free throws. Cooper Koch nailed them both.
2:54 1st Half: Iowa 26, Grand Canyon 20
Iowa’s offense is still stuck in the mud a bit right now, but a Cooper Koch three gave Iowa its biggest lead of the game before the under-four timeout. The Hawkeyes are doing a great job getting to the free-throw line, making 8-10 at the charity stripe. The defense is stifling the Lopes, forcing turnovers and missed shots left and right. Until the offense gets cooking, Iowa will need to rely on its defense to keep putting in work.
7:46 1st Half: Iowa 17, Grand Canyon 15
The Hawkeyes are starting to get it going on both ends of the court now. The offense is still a work in progress, but the defense is dialed in right now, holding the Lopes to one field goal over the last four-plus minutes. Iowa is just 1-4 from behind the arc, a number that will need to improve if they want to win this one.
10:42 1st Half: Iowa 13, Grand Canyon 13
A quick 5-0 Iowa run forces a GCU timeout! Stirtz is on the board with his first three of the night, and Howard has six points already. Iowa seems to be settling into the game now.
11:57 1st Half: Iowa 8, Grand Canyon 13
A slow start to this one for the Hawkeyes on both sides of the floor. Coming off a 29-point night against Ole Miss, Bennett Stirtz has yet to score in this one. Grand Canyon is already 3-6 from behind the arc, feeding off their fans. Jaden Henley already has eight points for the Lopes. Isaia Howard and Kael Combs are the only Hawkeyes to score so far.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball wins Acrisure Series over Grand Canyon: Final Score, Recap
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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