Mike Gesell scored 19 points, including three 3-pointers, to help Iowa beat Western Kentucky 63-55 on Tuesday night in the Cancun Challenge semifinals.
Melsahn Basabe added 11 points, eight of them after halftime, for the Hawkeyes, who shot 47 percent from the floor and improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 2008-09 season. Iowa, which never trailed, also moved to 18-0 over the past three seasons when holding its opponent to 60 points or fewer.
T.J. Price scored 16 points and Jamal Crook had 14 for the Hilltoppers (2-2), and Brandon Harris pulled down 10 rebounds. Western Kentucky shot just 33 percent from the field, including 5 of 21 on 3-point attempts.
In Wednesday's Riviera Division final, Iowa will face Wichita State, which beat DePaul earlier Tuesday. Western Kentucky will face DePaul in the consolation game.
Tuesday's game was the first-ever meeting between Iowa and Western Kentucky.
