West Plains, MO -- Both teams in the opening game of the MSU-WP Grizzly Classic in West Plains, MO came in with only one loss heading into mid-December; Iowa Western at 12-1 faced off against North Arkansas who entered at 11-1 with "common opponent wins" with the Reivers of: Kansas City-Kansas (twice), and Penn Valley.  The battle for one loss teams was no contest from the opening tip as the Reivers raced out to a 21-7 lead in the games opening five minutes and never led by fewer then that 14 point margin in their emphatic 119-84 win over the Pioneers.

The 84 points that the Reivers held North Arkansas to was a season low for a team that averaged an impressive 103 points per contest.  Iowa Western was led by Patrick Dembley's 30 points; four other Reivers scored in double figures including Isaiah Wade's 18 points, Decardo Day and Shaun Doss 13 points each, and Jevon Smith's 11 points. Every Reiver played at least eight minutes in a contest where the lead balooned out to over 40 points at one point.

With the win, the Reivers picked up their 13th win in 14 contests, while North Arkansas dropped to 11-2. Up next for Iowa Western is the team that gave them their lone loss. The hosting Missouri State University -West Plains Grizzlies who won their semi-final game of the classic with a 36 point win over Faith Prep in the evening night contest.  That sets up a battle between two 13-1 teams in the championship game of the Grizzly Classic. Game time is slated for 1:00pm.