IOWA CITY, Iowa | Axel Mpoyo scored a career-high 21 points as the Grambling State University men's basketball team gave Iowa a scare on Thursday night in an 85-74 loss at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
 
Grambling State (0-2) hung with Iowa for nearly 30 minutes and had a 59-56 lead with 10:58 left, but the Hawkeyes proved too much down the stretch and outscored the Tigers, 29-15, during the final 10-plus minutes to get the victory.
 
Mpoyo scored 21 points, on 8-of-18 shooting, with a career-high six rebounds, two steals and one block. Anthony Gaston tossed in a career-high 16 points, including four of the Tigers' 10 3-pointers, with five rebounds and one steal. Diontae Jones recorded 13 points, on 5-of-7 shooting, with two rebounds, and Nigel Riberio tallied 12 points, two assists and one steal. Ivy Smith, Jr., posted a career-high eight assists and seven points.
 
Jack Nunge led five Iowa players in double figures with 17 points and seven rebounds. Isaiah Moss and Tyler Cook each recorded 15 points, while Luka Garza tallied 13 points, nine boards, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Jordan Bohannon registered 12 points and a team-high seven assists.
 
Turning Point
Iowa led 43-35 at the break, but Grambling State kept the game close and trimmed the margin to 47-43 after a 3-pointer by Mpoyo with 17:34 remaining.
 
The Hawkeyes pushed the advantage to 52-43 after an Ahmad Wagner bucket with 16:30 left, but again the Tigers answered and cut the deficit to 54-52 after a Riberio trey with 12:04 remaining. Grambling State tied the game at 56 after a Riberio layup and Gaston's 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 59-56 advantage with 10:58 left.
 
That would be the last lead for Grambling State as Iowa went on 14-0 run, capped by a Garza free throw, to grab a 7-59 lead with 5:34 remaining. The Tigers cut the margin to 70-62 with 4:28 left, but that would be as close as Grambling State would get down the stretch.
 
Inside the Numbers
· Grambling State shot 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the floor and 100 percent (6-of-6) from the free-throw line.
· Iowa was 25-of-46 (54.3 percent) from the field and 75 percent (27-of-36) from the charity stripe.
· The Tigers registered 30 points in the paint, 25 bench points, 21 points off turnovers and 12 second-chance points.
· The Hawkeyes recorded 30 points in the paint, 29 bench points, 12 points off turnovers and 13 second-chance points.
· Grambling State finished with 37 rebounds, with 13 coming on the offensive glass.
· Iowa tallied 36 rebounds, including 26 off the defensive end.
· There were seven ties and four lead changes.
 
News & Notes
· The matchup with Iowa was the only game on the schedule against a Big Ten Opponent.
· Grambling State fell to 0-2 against the Hawkeyes all-time.
· The Tigers completed the second of eight straight road games on Thursday night.
 
Up Next
Grambling State continues its road swing as the Tigers trek north to Vermillion, S.D. to take on the University of South Dakota. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.
 
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