No. 12 NIACC stops Southwestern, 113-78
MASON CITY - The No. 12 NIACC men's basketball team opened NJCAA Region XI tournament play with a 113-78 victory over Southwestern Tuesday night in the NIACC gym.
NIACC, which has won seven of its last eight games, led 64-36 at the half and outscored the Spartans 49-42 to advance to the regional semifinals.
Fourth-seed NIACC (24-6) plays at top-seed Kirkwood in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday. No. 9 Kirkwood (24-5) advanced to the league's final four with a 96-57 win over Little Priest Tribal College on Tuesday.
No. 5 DMACC will host No. 10 Iowa Lakes in the other regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday.
In Tuesday's tournament opener, sophomore Trey Sampson led the Trojans with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Wendell Matthews also recorded a double/double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Trojans. Chandler Dean was the third Trojan with a double/double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
NIACC also received 18 points from Deundra Roberson, 16 points from James Harris, 14 points from Quentin Hardrict and 13 points from Chandler Dean.
NIACC connected on 12 3-point goals against Southwestern. Harris led the way with three 3-point goals and Hardrict, Dean and Marshauan Carroll all made two 3-point goals.
The 12 3-point goals tied the most in a game for the Trojans this season. They also drained 12 3-point goals against Iowa Central on Jan. 22 and 12 against the Simpson College JV on Jan. 23.
It is the second straight season that NIACC scored over 100 points in its regional tournament opener. The Trojans opened the tournament in 2018-19 with a 114-88 victory over Little Priest Tribal College.
The 113 points Tuesday by NIACC is tied for the fifth most in a regional tournament game.
NIACC won all three games against Southwestern this season. The Trojans won the two regular season games (98-68 and 94-76).
NJCAA Region XI tournament
Tuesday's results
Kirkwood 96, Little Priest Tribal College 57
NIACC 113, Southwestern 78
Iowa Lakes 101, Ellsworth 75
DMACC 86, Iowa Central 70
NIACC'S TOP SCORING REGIONAL TOURNAMENT GAMES
NIACC 134, Sioux Empire 93 (1976-77)
NIACC 128, Iowa Lakes 89 (1977-78)
NIACC 122, Iowa Central 88 (1977-78)
NIACC 114, Little Priest Tribal College 88 (3-5-19)
NIACC 113, Iowa Lakes 77 (1975-76)
NIACC 113, Southwestern 78 (3-3-20)