NIACC falls to Kirkwood in regional final
CEDAR RAPIDS - No. 7 NIACC dropped a 84-72 decision to Kirkwood in the NJCAA Region XI men's title game on Saturday afternoon.
Regional tournament MVP Doug Wilson scored 27 points with six rebounds and two blocked shots to lead top-seeded Kirkwood, which advances to the NJCAA Division II national tournament in Danivlle, Ill. March 19-23.
No. 2 Kirkwood (27-4) trailed 32-30 at the half and outscored the Trojans 54-40 in the second 20 minutes.
NIACC (25-5) was led by freshman point guard Quentin Hardrict with 15 points. James Harris scored 13 points, Wendell Matthews scored 12 points and Trey Sampson scored 10 points. Sampson led the Trojans with 10 rebounds for his second career double/double.
NIACC, which was playing in the regional title game for the first time since 1995, placed Hardrict and Sampson on the regional all-tournament team. The Trojans' Mark Mohl was selected as the regional coach of the year.
NIACC's 2018-19 season (25-5 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
DMACC 96, NIACC 89
NJCAA Region XI tournament
NIACC 114, Little Priest Tribal College 88
NIACC 90, Iowa Lakes 82
Kirkwood 84, NIACC 72