The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Marble, Hubbard clash in Prime Time

Anthony Hubbard is such a draw to this summer’s Prime Time League that Tuesday night’s game had to be moved to a bigger gym to accomodate fans.

But Hubbard wasn’t the only stand-out in the match-up. Each team had five players with double-digit figures.

Hubbard’s Prime Time League squade faced off against the team lead by Roy Devyn Marble in a back-and-forth contest in which Marble scored 27 points but Hubbard turned in an all-around performance to lead his team to a 97-94 victory.

Marble played aggressively all night. He made hard cuts, showed off a wide variety of isolation moves, and knocked down mid-range jumpers. With around 16 minutes left in the game, he streaked down the floor for a fast-break slam dunk that cut his team’s deficit to 1 point.

He also made big defensive plays down the stretch. He picked up a steal while pressing and scored a quick deuce, then knocked the ball away again with only a minute left and his team down by 3.

Marble’s play wasn’t enough though to overcome Hubbard’s strong performance and Northern Iowa guard Anthony James’ game-high 32 points for Coach’s Corner/Two Rivers Bank & Trust, though.

Hubbard’s play on both ends of the floor freed up his teammates for open shots and fast-break opportunities, which made the difference in the game.

“I thought I played aggressively,” Hubbard said. “Once you’re aggressive, you can make things happen. If I’m taking it to the basket and somebody comes to guard me, I pass it off. I try to simplify the game as much as possible.”

Coach Kevin Lehman said he knew what he was getting when he drafted Hubbard.

“What I like about Anthony — first of all, he’s a great young man and a very unselfish teammate,” Lehman said. “Some guys shoot too much, some pass too much, some dribble too much, but you can never rebound too much. That’s what he does.”

Hubbard led his team with 9 rebounds, scored 11 points, dished out 5 assists, and nearly came up with the most spectacular play of the summer so far.

Ahead of his defender on a fast break, Hubbard rose up for an alley-oop, caught the ball with one hand, and then threw it down with authority — so much authority that the ball rattled around the rim and popped out.

“I’ve missed two dunks now,” he said. “I thought it was in there. I was telling [my teammate] just throw the ball up in the air … he threw it, but I missed it.”

Each team had five players in double figures. Hubbard received plenty of help from teammates from UNI, as James, Chip Rank, and Christopher Olivier combined to score 55 points.

That proved to be too much for Marble and his teammates on Monica’s/L.L. Pelling Co. to overcome. Former Iowa players Duez Henderson and Darryl Moore turned in strong performances, tallying 20 and 12 points, respectively. Current Iowa big man Devon Archie struggled in the first half, going 0-for-5 from the field. He started strong in the second period, though, scoring the first 4 points for his team and knocking down a pair of free throws — which had been an area of concern for the forward in 2010-11.

High-flying point guard Wes Washpun provided much of the excitement for the gym full of fans, though. Washpun repeatedly sliced through the lane, leaped high into the air, and converted acrobatic lay-ups.

Lehman called Tuesday night’s 3-point thriller one of the best summer-league games he has participated in, and Marble expressed his excitement for the July 12 rematch.

“We’ll see them again,” he said. “We’re going to get them next time.”

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