No. 3 Trojans clinch share of league title
MASON CITY - The No. 3 NIACC men's basketball team topped Ellsworth 86-64 for its 11th straight win on Wednesday in an ICCAC contest in the NIACC gym.
The win clinched at least a share of the ICCAC regular season title for NIACC men. The Trojans (23-3 overall) are 12-1 in the league with one game remaining - at home Thursday against DMACC.
No. 5 Kirkwood is 11-2 in the league with one game remaining at Ellsworth on Saturday.
The ICCAC regular season champion clinches home-court advantage throughout the NJCAA Region XI tournament, which starts on Tuesday.
The 23 wins by NIACC is the most since the 2006-07 team was 23-9. The school record for wins in a season is the 1994-95 national championship team that was 24-12.
NIACC, which started the season 1-2, has won 22 of its last 23 games. The Trojans have produced two win streaks of 11 games, which is tied for the third longest in school history.
In Wednesday's win over Ellsworth, freshman Wendell Matthews scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Also scoring in double figures were Quentin Hardrict (15), James Harris (12), Deundra Roberson (10) and Chandler Dean (10).
Freshman center Trey Sampson blocked six shots, including five in the first half. The six blocks was the most in a game for the Trojans since Matthew Don blocked six shots against Iowa Lakes on Feb. 12, 2014.
NIACC wraps up its regular season Thursday at home against DMACC. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.
NIACC's 2018-19 season (23-3 overall)
DCTC 91, NIACC 80
NIACC 97, Bay College 77
Iowa Western 100, NIACC 76
NIACC 78, Marshalltown CC 73
NIACC 99, RCTC 67
NIACC 94, Southeastern CC 86
NIACC 109, Wartburg College JV 77
NIACC 101, DCTC 65
NIACC 105, Northeast CC 71
NIACC 108, Luther College JV 70
NIACC 104, Southwestern 81
NIACC 125, Mount Mercy JV 98
NIACC 86, Iowa Central 75
NIACC 106, DMACC 100
Kirkwood 83, NIACC 65
NIACC 108, St. Ambrose University Junior Varsity 72
NIACC 110, Little Priest Tribal College 85
NIACC 86, Ellsworth 74
NIACC 119, Iowa Lakes 110
NIACC 96, Southwestern 83
NIACC 95, Iowa Central 82
NIACC 95, Kirkwood 81
NIACC 121, Little Priest Tribal College 101
NIACC 109, Graceland University JV 53
NIACC 107, Iowa Lakes 94
NIACC 86, Ellsworth 64
THE LAST TIME NIACC ....
Scored 100 points: 107 vs. Iowa Lakes 94 (2-21-19)
Had 10 3-point goals: 16 vs. Little Priest Tribal College (2-13-19)
Had 50 rebounds: 52 vs. Ellsworth (2-27-19)
Had 20 assists: 26 vs. Little Priest Tribal College (2-13-19)
Had 15 steals: 17 vs. Graceland University JV (2-18-19)
THE LAST TIME A TROJAN HAD ...
50 points: 51, Dennis Shaffer vs. Southeastern (1972-73); 50, Dennis Shaffer vs. Iowa Central (1972-73)
40 points: 46, Walter Smith vs. Iowa Lakes (1973-74)
30 points: 32, Deundra Roberson vs. Southwestern (2-2-19)
5 3-point goals: 6, Deundra Roberson vs. Iowa Lakes (2-21-19)
25 rebounds: 25, Terry McKissick vs. Marshalltown (1971-72)
15 rebounds: 18, Cam McPherson vs. AFLBS (12-16-17)
10 rebounds: 10, David Wanjara vs. Graceland University JV (2-18-19)
15 assists: 16, Mike Eckenrod vs. Kirkwood (1987-88)
10 assists: 12, Quentin Hardrict vs. Little Priest Tribal College (1-31-18)
10 steals: 10, Jade Watson vs. Normandale (1993-94)
5 steals: 5, Deundra Roberson vs. Little Priest Tribal College (2-13-19)
5 blocks: 6, Trey Sampson vs. Ellsworth (2-27-19)
Double/double: Trey Sampson 23 points/12 rebounds vs. Little Priest Tribal College (2-13-19)