When the lights get brighter, Bennett Stirtz takes his game to a whole new level.
Iowa's superstar guard was leading the team in points (17.6) and assists (6.2) per game through the first five games, and took his game to a whole new level in the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs, California.
Stirtz notched a season-high 29 points against Ole Miss in Iowa's first game of the tournament, guiding the Hawkeyes to a 74-69 win.
The craziest part about Stritz's offensive explosion against the Rebels is that he did all of his damage from outside the paint, not scoring a single dunk or layup.
One night after torching Ole Miss, Stirtz looked to have a repeat performance against a tricky Grand Canyon Antelopes squad.
The Antelopes held him in check for most of the game, forcing him to shoot a season-low 33.3 percent from the field.
Stritz finished the night with 13 points and added five assists as the Hawkeyes outlasted the Antelopes 59-46 to win the Acrisure Classic Championship.
After guiding his team to a championship trophy, Stirtz also took home some silverware.
2025 Acrisure Classic MVP 👏@bennett_stirtz x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/peBDqSjArN
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) November 27, 2025
After averaging 21.0 points and 3.5 assists in the Hawkeyes' two wins, Stirtz was named the MVP of the Acrisure Classic.
The award is another for Stirtz to add to his growing trophy case after showcasing his ability in Iowa's first true road tests of the season.
The Hawkeyes head back to Iowa City flying high after capturing a championship in their first tournament under new Head Coach Ben McCollum.
The squad hopes to continue that momentum as they take on Michigan State in their first Big Ten Conference game this season.