Motor City Rallies Past Iowa, 124-122

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Motor City Cruise remained undefeated with a 124-122 comeback win over the Iowa Wolves on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Motor City (4-0) rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 21 in the game that was the second meeting between the teams in a week. Jontay Porter posted a double-double with 21 points and 20 rebounds helping the Cruise outrebound Iowa (1-5), 48-33, and converting 28 second chance points as a team. Porter added six blocks.

D.J. Carton poured in a career-high 36 points for the Wolves, which lost its fifth-straight game. Carton added five assists and three steals. Minnesota assignment player Wendell Moore Jr.  scored 19 points while Javonte Cooke had 16 off the bench. 

Tosan Evbuomwan’s three with 3:25 left in the game tied the score at 114-all. Buckets by Moore Jr. and Cooke sandwiched a dunk by Porter before Malcom Cazalon’s three gave Motor City the lead for good at 119-118. 

Xavier Simpson pushed the lead to four on the next possession. Carton was fouled and made one of two free throws. Iowa then fouled Jared Rhoden with 11.3 seconds to go as Rhoden made one of two to push the lead to four. Iowa remained alive as Cooke was fouled shooting a three and converted all three to pull within one.

Iowa fouled Cazalon, who made one of two, with 5.5 seconds that pushed the lead to two. Iowa had a final chance but failed to get a shot off before the clock expired. 

The Wolves travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. for a back-to-back series against the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Tipoff Saturday is 7 p.m. and Sunday is 3 p.m.