Bennett Stirtz scores 29 for Iowa in 74-69 win over Ole Miss in opening round of Acrisure Series

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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored a season-high 29 points and Cooper Koch added 14 for Iowa in a 74-69 win over Mississippi in the first round of the Acrisure Series on Tuesday night.

Koch also had 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

The game was tied at 31 going into halftime. Stirtz hit four 3-pointers and was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the second half to help the Hawkeyes (6-0) pull ahead. Overall, Stirtz was 9-of-20 shooting, making 6 of 8 from the arc and 5 of 6 free throws.

A 10-2 run put Iowa ahead 64-57 with 4:31 to play. Ole Miss (5-1) got within five with 44 seconds left, but four free throws helped hold off the Rebels.

AJ Storr shot 6 of 10 from the field and 8 of 10 from the line in leading the Rebels with 22 points. Kezza Giffa added 13 and Ilias Karmadine had 12.

Iowa will play the winner of the late Grand Canyon-Utah game for the Group Two championship. Ole Miss will play the loser for third place.

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