Wolves Close 2022 with New Year’s Eve Win over Raptors 905, 128-124

DES MOINES, Iowa – Six players scored in double figures for the Iowa Wolves Saturday afternoon in its 128-124 win over the Raptors 905 at Wells Fargo Arena. The victory secured a split in the season series between the teams.

D.J. Carton scored a team-high 32 points, his fourth 30+ scoring performance in the past five games, for Iowa (1-1). Carton added 10 assists and five rebounds. Jordan Bohannon was a spark off the bench with a career-high 21 points behind impressive 8-of-12 shooting from the field with a career-best five three-pointers. 

905 (1-1) trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter but quickly tied the game, which included 19 lead changes and nine score ties. The Wolves countered and pushed their lead to nine with Carton’s deep three with 4:33 to go. However, the 905 came all the way back to within three points after a pair of free throws by Reggie Perry with 22.7 left. A Wolves’ turnover followed and the 905 had an opportunity to tie the game after a reset but Saben Lee’s three was off the mark as Phillip Wheeler secured the rebound and was quickly fouled. Wheeler made one of two free throws to push lead to four and later Ron Harper Jr.’s three was ruled to come after the final buzzer sounded as Iowa secured the split.

Thursday’s game featured 20 lead changes and 10 ties and the back-and-forth action continued Saturday with 18 lead changes and four ties just in the first half. 

Dalano Banton led the 905 with 35 points and Perry had 25 and Sterling Brown 20. Harper Jr. finished with 16 points.

Carton’s and-one late in the second quarter tied the game at 61-all but the 905 were able to steal the lead with just .01 second left before halftime. After the ball went out of bounds, David Johnson lobbed a high pass towards the rim that Banton tipped it in.

Bohannon scored 13 points in the first two quarters, just one off his career high while Carton led all scorers with 16 points. 12 of those points came in the second quarter.

Iowa has a fast turnaround as the Texas Legends (1-1) come to Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday for a 2 p.m. New Year’s Day matinee.