Iowa players and coaches discuss second-half strategy.

Iowa had an atrocious shooting night, especially in the second half, in suffering its first loss of the season, 75-63 to Wichita State in the Cancun Challenge championship game.

Iowa (5-1) shot just 26.1 percent from the floor but it was much worse in the second half. Iowa hit just 4-of-24 shots and was 1-of-7 from 3-point range. That’s after hitting 7-of-8 3-pointers in the first half.

Wichita State’s Cleanthony Early scored a game-high 25 points to lead the 6-0 Shockers. Aaron White scored 14 points, aided primarily by 11-of-12 free throws.

FIRST HALF RECAP

Paced by four Josh Oglesby 3-pointers, the Iowa men’s basketball held a 35-33 halftime lead against Wichita State in the Cancun Challenge championship game tonight.

Oglesby drilled 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and the Hawkeyes buried 7-of-8 in the first half. Iowa’s perimeter shooting nearly overshadowed the team’s porous shooting inside the 3-point arc. The Hawkeyes hit just 1-of-14 from the field that counted for two points. Iowa also shot 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.

The game so far has had its fair share of foul calls. Iowa has 11, and Wichita State has 12. Four Iowa players — Mike Gesell, Melsahn Basabe, Adam Woodbury, Devyn Marble — left the game with two fouls. Gesell was called for his second just four minutes in, and Basabe played only seven minutes before he was sat.

Oglesby hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push a one-point Iowa lead to five with 2:47 left in the first half. Iowa took a 29-23 lead after two free throws from Aaron White, but the Shockers stormed back, scoring on their last four possessions.

The teams traded 3-point baskets on their last two offensive series. Oglesby’s fourth 3-pointer put Iowa up 32-27, but the Shockers followed with a Malcolm Armstead 3-pointer. Iowa point guard Anthony Clemmons hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock drifted down, but Wichita State countered with a Cleanthony Early 3-pointer with 2 seconds left in the half.

Early leads all scorers with 15 points, while Oglesby has 12. Marble has scored nine points.