April 18, 2004
Sophomores Jeff Horner and Pierre Pierce were named most valuable players for the 2003-04 University of Iowa basketball team at the squad’s annual awards banquet staged Sunday in Iowa City.
Pierce — with 16.1 points per game — and Horner — who averaged 13 points per outing — were the top two scorers for the Hawkeyes as Iowa had a 16-13 overall record in 2003-04, posting its fourth straight winning season and advancing to post-season play for the fourth straight season. Horner led the squad with 123 assists and Pierce was second with 107, and the two ranked third (Pierce at 5.7) and fourth (Horner at 5.3) in rebounds per game. Pierce and Horner each earned third team all-Big Ten honors.
|
Jeff Horner and Pierre Pierce are the only two Iowa players to total over 200 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in more than one season.
|
Horner, a native of Mason City, and Pierce, from Westmont, IL, are the only two Iowa players to total over 200 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in more than one season. Horner also ranked second in steals (38) while leading the team in three-point field goal percentage (.425) and free throw percentage (.860). Pierce scored in double figures in 26 of 29 games while shooting 47.8% from the field and ranking third in steals (27).
Senior Brody Boyd and sophomore Greg Brunner shared the Chris Street Award, which is presented annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm and intensity of Chris Street. Boyd is a native of Dugger, IN who started all 29 games during his final season. Boyd averaged 11.1 points per contest and led the Big Ten with 68 steals. Boyd’s thefts, this season, rank fourth best for a single season. He ranks 10th with 143 career steals. Boyd also ranks second in career three-point field goal attempts (544) and third in made three-pointers (193).
Brunner, from Charles City, averaged 10.9 points per game and was Iowa’s top rebounder with an average of 8.2 per game. Brunner ranked second in Big Ten rebounding, for all games and in Big Ten games only. Brunner also led the Hawkeyes in field goal percentage (.549) and was second on the team with 32 blocked shots.
Senior Kurt Spurgeon earned the Highest GPA Award. The walk-on from DeWitt, who is majoring in management, carries a 3.53 grade-point-average.
Brunner and senior Jared Reiner shared the Most Dedicated Student Award for their academic performance. Reiner, who earned academic all-Big Ten honors for the third straight season, is a finance major with a 3.26 grade-point-average. The native of Tripp, SD was limited to 13 games last season due to a stress fracture. Reiner averaged 10.5 points and 7.2 points before missing the final 16 games. Brunner holds a 3.08 GPA and is majoring in communication studies.
Brunner, Horner and Pierce also were recognized with Extra Effort Awards and for leading the team in statistical categories. Brunner led the team in charges taken (15), rebounds (239), put backs (19) and field goal percentage (.549). Horner led the team in assists (123), loose balls (43) free throw percentage (.860) and three-point percentage (.425) and Pierce led the squad by making five free throws or more in 10 games. Pierce led the team in both free throws made (108) and free throw attempts (188).