UNCG-Iowa Box Score
IOWA CITY, IA – Adam Haluska and Pierre Pierce each scored 17 points to lead four Iowa players in double-figures as the Hawkeyes defeated UNC Greensboro, 83-58, in the championship game of the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge.
UNC Greensboro was led by Kyle Hines' 14 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth double-double in six games this season. He also blocked three shots to raise his Southern Conference-leading total to 25. Josh Gross chipped in with 13 points and Ricky Hickman added 11 points. It was Hickman's fifth double-digit scoring game in six outings this season.
Neither team did a good job of taking care of the basketball early on. In the first half, the teams combined for 24 turnovers, 11 by UNCG. The Spartans, however, compounded matters by shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first half (10-for-40), while Iowa shot 54 percent (15-for-28). Ronnie Burrell and Hickman, which combined to score UNCG's last 23 points in Friday night's win over Southern Mississippi, were held to a combined five points on 2-for-14 shooting from the field in the first 20 minutes. Burrell finished the night with nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 and the top team in the also receiving votes category in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll, opened up their first double-digit lead of the night with just over 10 minutes left in the first half, 25-14, on a three-pointer by Carlton Reed.
A three-pointer by freshman Kevin Oleksiak in the right corner and a transition lay-up by Ray Bristow pulled UNCG back within six less than a minute later. However, UNCG scored just one field goal in the next four minutes as Iowa opened its lead back up to 12. UNCG got the margin back to single-digits briefly, but an 8-0 spurt to close out the half by the Hawkeyes gave them a 41-25 lead at the intermission.
A pair of Josh Gross dunks spurred an 8-1 UNCG run to open the second half. But a three-pointer by Horner and a transition lay-up got the Hawkeyes back up by double-figures at 47-33.
The Spartans (4-2) made a couple of runs after that, but could not get the margin less than 10. Iowa (6-1) blew the game open late and led by as many as 29 in the second half.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams. With the win, Iowa garnered its 22nd Hawkeye Challenge title in 23 tournaments. All-time, the Hawkeyes are 45-1 in Hawkeye Challenge action, including a perfect 22-0 mark in championship games. Iowa is also 37-4 in non-conference games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena under coach Steve Alford.
Both of UNCG's losses this season have come at the hands of ranked teams. The Spartans' other loss was at Top 10-ranked Duke a week ago. The Spartans were in search of their first in-season tournament title since 1988-89, although the team had not played in an in-season tournament before this weekend since 1996-97.
Named to the all-tournament team were UNCG's Hickman, Iowa's Pierce, Greg Brunner, Jeff Horner, Centenary's Chad Maciles and Southern Miss' Jasper Johnson. Pierce and Horner were named co-Tournament MVP.
The Spartans will break for final exams and return to the court on December 16 when they host Guilford College at Fleming Gymnasium. Game time is set for 7 pm.
AGATE
UNC GREENSBORO (4-2): Hines, 7-12 0-1 14; Gross, 6-13 0-2 13; Hickman, 4-14 0-2 11; Burrell, 4-14 1-2 9; Oleksiak, 2-4 0-0 5; Beckford, 1-7 0-0 2; Johnson, 0-1 2-2 2; Bristow, 1-8 0-0 2; Moore, 0-0 0-0 0; Everette, 0-0 0-0 0; Wilson, 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-74 3-9 58.
IOWA (6-1): Pierce, 7-17 2-3 17; Haluska, 7-11 0-0 17; Horner, 5-9 0-0 14; Brunner, 5-8 2-2 12; Hansen, 3-7 2-3 8; Reed, 2-4 0-2 6; Henderson, 2-2 0-0 5; Thomas, 1-2 2-2 4; Gorney, 0-0 0-0 0; Brownlee, 0-0 0-0 0; Wieck, 0-0 0-0 0; Thompson, 0-1 0-0 0; Angle, 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-63 8-12 83.
Halftime: Iowa 41-25. 3-point goals: UNC Greensboro 5-17 (Hickman, 3-7; Oleksiak, 1-3; Gross, 1-2; Bristow, 0-3; Wilson, 0-1; Beckford, 0-1), Iowa 11-19 (Horner, 4-6; Haluska, 3-5; Reed, 2-2; Pierce, 1-4; Henderson, 1-1; Angle, 0-1). Fouled out: UNC Greensboro: None, Iowa: None. Rebounds: UNC Greensboro 42 (Burrell, 13), Iowa 43 (Thomas, 10). Assists: UNC Greensboro 11 (Bristow, 2; Burrell, 2; Johnson, 2; Hickman, 2), Iowa 24 (Horner, 11). Total fouls: UNC Greensboro 15, Iowa 13.
- UNCG -
