SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — In a high-octane G League rematch decided by defensive stands and critical free throws in the final seconds, the Iowa Wolves avenged a loss from the previous night by outlasting the San Diego Clippers 105-98 on Saturday at Frontwave Arena.

The game, a seesaw affair featuring 16 lead changes and 10 ties, was ultimately sealed at the foul line in the closing moments. With Iowa leading 99-96 and 11 seconds remaining, San Diego’s John Poulakidas committed his sixth foul, sending Iowa’s Jules Bernard to the line. Bernard sank both free throws. On the ensuing possession, Poulakidas fouled again, this time sending Alize Johnson to the line. Johnson also made both shots, pushing the lead to 103-96 and effectively extinguishing San Diego’s hopes.

The most pivotal sequence of the game, however, occurred just moments earlier. Trailing 96-91 with under a minute to play, San Diego’s Patrick Baldwin hit a deep running jumper to cut the deficit to three. Iowa’s Enrique Freeman then turned the ball over on the inbound play, giving the Clippers a chance to tie. Jaelen House converted a driving layup to make it 96-94 with 39 seconds left.

After an Iowa timeout, the Wolves’ inbound pass was stolen by San Diego, setting up a potential game-tying or go-ahead possession. The Clippers called timeout with 39 seconds remaining. Out of the stoppage, Baldwin drove for a layup that missed, and Iowa’s Rocco Zikarsky secured the crucial defensive rebound. House immediately fouled Bernard, sending him to the line where he would begin the game-clinching free throw parade.

The contest was a tale of contrasting rhythms. San Diego started hot, led by Baldwin’s early scoring, and took a 30-23 lead after the first quarter. Iowa responded with a dominant 27-point second quarter, fueled by defensive pressure that held the Clippers to 19 points, to take a 50-49 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was an offensive showcase, with both teams scoring 30 points. Baldwin and Iowa’s Alize Johnson traded baskets in a period that saw six lead changes. The Wolves finally created separation with a 9-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, building an 81-71 advantage. San Diego chipped away, using a 13-3 run capped by a Hunter Sallis three-pointer to close to 84-82 with just over five minutes to play, but could never draw even.

Johnson, the Wolves’ small forward from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was instrumental in the victory, providing consistent scoring and key defensive rebounds down the stretch. Baldwin led all scorers for San Diego, showcasing a versatile offensive game, but his missed layup in the final minute proved costly.

The win moves both teams to identical 13-10 records in the G League standings. Iowa, which lost 125-118 in San Diego on Friday, avoided the two-game road sweep and will begin a two-game set at Valley on Tuesday. San Diego travels to face South Bay on Wednesday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, San Diego had been projected with a 71.1 percent probability to win. The Wolves’ victory, secured by composure in the final minute, defied those odds.