Sedalia, MO -- The Iowa Western men's basketball team dropped it's opening game of the 2018-19 season to a very talented Sunrise Christian Academy, 87-72, as part of the opening day of the State Fair Roadrunner Tip-Off Classic.

The Reivers opened the contest with an opening basket and continued to lead the way for the first ten minutes of the contest.  Nathan Johnson's three pointer gave the Buffalos from Wichita, KS the lead with 9:21 left in the first half.  The Reivers were riddled with foul trouble in the opening frame as six Iowa Western players had two fouls or more in the first 20 minutes of play; and trailed 50-40 at the break.

In the second half the Reivers made several attempts to climb back into contention, but were unable to get closer then 7 points the rest of the way.  In the Reivers first game of the season; Travon Broadway led the Reivers with 18 points which included 11/14 from the charity stripe. Parker Hazen and Emmanuel Ugboh rounded off the double figure scorers with 14 and 12 respectively.

It was Sunrise Christian's four game of the early season. The early experience showed, and the Buffaloes looked game ready after coming off an impressive 40 point victory over also nationally respected prep school Don Bosco (IN) the previous weekend. The perennially strong Sunrise roster was once again just that, already boasting players who have committed for the 2019-20 seasons to such programs as Michigan State, Creighton, and Missouri to name a few.  Creighton University commit Shareef Mitchell lead all scorers with a game high 21 points.

The Reivers conclude the State Fair Roadrunner Tip-Off Classic tomorrow afternoon against Missouri Valley University JV. Tip-Up for the Reivers and Vikings is slated for 3:00pm CST.