Iowa surges ahead with late run to beat WSU Cougars 76-66

Nate Calmese scored 27 points, but the Iowa Hawkeyes pulled away with a late 8-0 run to hand the WSU Cougars a 76-66 loss.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nov 15, 2024, 11:46 PM

Follow on Google News

WSU Cougars Isaiah Watts men's basketball hoops WCC...

Isaiah Watts of the WSU Cougars grabs a rebound in a 2024 game. (David Becker/Getty Images)

(David Becker/Getty Images)

MOLINE, ILL. (AP) — Owen Freeman scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, finishing one-point shy of his career-high, and Iowa pulled away late to beat the WSU Cougars 76-66 on Friday night.

Iowa Hawkeyes 76, WSU Cougars 66: Box score

Payton Sandfort scored 18 points for the Hawkeyes (4-0). Iowa started 5-0 in the 2022-23 season, 7-0 the year before and 6-0 in 2020-21.

Nate Calmese scored 27 points for Washington State (3-1). LeJaun Watts had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Iowa’s Drew Thelwell wrapped a pair of 3-pointers around one from the Cougars’ Ethan Price to give the Hawkeyes a 63-62 lead and they pulled away from there. Payton Sandfort and Pryce Sandfort each made four free throws and Freeman made a pair all in the last 1:12 of play while Washington State missed its last seven shot attempts.

Washington State led 36-33 at halftime.

Both teams struggled from 3-point range with Iowa shooting 8 of 25 and Washington State 5 of 28.

It was only the second time the two teams have ever played with Iowa beating Washington State 74-66 on Dec. 30, 1963, in Pullman, Washington.

Monday: WSU Cougars handle Idaho 90-67, move to 3-0