Bennett Stirtz capped a 20-point performance with a pair of game-winning free throws in the final five seconds, and Iowa escaped a major collapse in its 73-72 defeat of Southern California on Wednesday in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Hawkeyes (15-5, 5-4 Big Ten Conference) shot 19-of-22 at the foul line, including Stirtz’s decisive attempts with 4.6 seconds remaining. He gave Iowa the lead for good after USC pulled ahead on Jacob Cofie’s putback layup on the previous possession.
The Hawkeyes shot 7-of-14 from beyond the arc in the second half as Stirtz and Tavion Banks, who also netted 20 points, each knocked down a pair of triples.
Kam Woods scored a career-high 33 points to buoy the Trojans (15-6, 4-6) on a night that season-long leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara was held to 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting and seven turnovers. Big man Ezra Ausar also was limited, scoring 10 points before fouling out.
Woods shot 12-of-17 from the floor and created enough space for a look at a game-winning 3-point attempt, but the shot bounced out.
Stirtz’s winning free throws came after a foul call on Jerry Easter II, who appeared to have the Iowa wing trapped near the sideline and midcourt.
The Hawkeyes opened a 17-point lead midway through the second half on the strength of a 39-12 deluge that began late in the first. Iowa rallied from a sluggish start, going more than eight minutes to begin the game without a made field goal, with a combination of torrid 3-point shooting and an ability to get to the free-throw line.
The Trojans trailed 60-43 with 9:30 to go in regulation and only shaved two points off the deficit in the ensuing 4:05. But Woods erupted to score 19 consecutive USC points to pull the Trojans to within one possession.
–Field Level Media
