IOWA CITY, Iowa, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Luke Recker scored 22 points Saturday night to carry the 13th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes past Southern Methodist, 86-69, to capture their own tournament -- the Hawkeye Challenge.
Iowa (6-2) scored 13 straight points in the first half to take a 39-24 lead with just under three minutes left. Recker made two three-pointers during the spurt, including one from the left wing that capped it.
A three-pointer by Quinton Ross stopped the drought for the Mustangs (3-3), but Iowa scored the next six points for a 45-27 lead with 1:49 to go. A dunk by Chauncey Leslie gave the Hawkeyes a 47-30 lead at intermission.
Reggie Evans scored 17 points and Ryan Hogan added 16 for Iowa and were named co-Most Valuable Players of the tournament.
Iowa has won this event 19 of 20 times.
Ross led SMU with 24 points and was named to the all-tournament squad with teammate Damon Hancock.
