Iowa basketball will play Grand Canyon in the championship game in an attempt to win the Acrisure Classic. Iowa returns to the court tonight with a trophy up for grabs after one of its hardest victories of the early season. Grand Canyon will play the Hawkeyes, who are now 6-0, in the Acrisure Classic championship game at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California. Although both teams have a short turnaround, the stakes make this late-November game even more exciting.
Iowa defeated Ole Miss 74-69 late on Tuesday night to earn a spot in the championship game. Iowa’s maturity and conditioning were put to the test with this kind of performance, and senior point guard Bennett Stirts once again didn’t back down from the challenge. Throughout the first three weeks of the season, Stirts has been incredible, but Tuesday might have been his most dominant performance to date. He scored 29 points, making a scorching 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and 9-of-20 from the field. It’s evident why the Hawkeyes have more faith in him than ever when you consider his 5-of-6 performance at the free-throw line, along with his 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal over the course of 40 minutes.
His poise was also important. Ole Miss put a lot of pressure on Iowa, making them engage in physical drives and lengthy possessions. Stirts produced a timely jumper, a deft finish, or a fearless three every time the Rebels threatened to gain ground. It was leadership—the kind of presence that uplifts a team’s ceiling, energizes a huddle, and stabilizes a bench—rather than just scoring. If Iowa continues to rise, supporters might remember Tuesday night as the point at which this team demonstrated that it was more than just a hot start.
Grand Canyon, on the other hand, arrives with self-assurance. Despite tipping off at 11 p.m., the Antelopes easily defeated Utah, 68-58, in their semifinal. CT on the same evening that Iowa performed. Leading the way with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting and an outstanding 8-for-9 record at the line was Jaden Henley. In just over thirty minutes on the court, he also contributed three rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
Henley has been the driving force behind GCU’s 4-2 start, leading the Antelopes with 17.0 points per game in their first five games. Even though his perimeter shooting hasn’t quite clicked yet—he’s only shooting 18.1% from beyond the arc but is still converting 45.2% overall—his efficiency inside the arc has carried them. It’s simple to understand why he is at the top of Iowa’s scouting report when you consider his 86.5% free-throw accuracy, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
These two teams also share a fun symmetry. Stirts, who is averaging 19.5 points on nearly 60% shooting and is playing some of the best basketball in the Big Ten, is a key player for Iowa. His efficiency is even more remarkable from the free-throw line, where he sits at 89.3%, and from long range, where he is hitting 45%. In addition, he adds 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 5.2 assists per game.
Henley’s versatility and scoring help Grand Canyon counter. Every aspect of both teams’ play, including tempo control, shot creation, and defensive communication, is largely dependent on their senior guards. The game often develops its own rhythm when two seasoned floor generals share the spotlight.
In addition to individual games, tonight’s game gives Iowa another opportunity to confirm what we’ve seen over the course of six games: a team that can combine discipline, pace, and spacing while strengthening their defense every week. In addition to their convincing victory over Xavier, SEMO, Chicago State, and Robert Morris on Tuesday, they have a 6-0 record. Coaches want to see that combination of resilience and dominance prior to conference play. The Iowa vs. Grand Canyon tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. Ed Cohen will be on the call, and Dan Dickau will offer commentary. Fans can also watch the action live on Fubo, which gives new users a free trial.
The Acrisure Classic is coming to an end tonight, and although November championships don’t define a season, they do reveal something significant: who is prepared to rise when the lights turn a little brighter and the turnaround quickens. Iowa has already demonstrated its ability to persevere through fatigue. It now has the opportunity to finish its trip to California with hardware and go into December with a perfect record.
