Council Bluffs, IA -- The Iowa Western men's basketball team found themselves in a hard fought contest Friday (11/9/18) against Des Moines Area (DMACC).  When the dust settled the Reivers were able to keep the visiting Bears at arms length for a 88-81 victory on the first day of the Holiday Inn / Hampton Inn Reiver Classic.

The first half was a opened with an undefeated DMACC team looking just like that, as the Bears opened up an 8 point lead early in the contest.  However, the host team of the Reiver Classic showed no worry and began to real their visiting opponents from the Iowa capital city back in; and by halftime Iowa Western had taken a one point lead into the locker room.

In the second half both teams played quality possession-by-possession basketball for this early in the season; and though DMACC competed and challenged the Reivers, Iowa Western never once gave up that one point halftime lead holding of the Bears for a well earned 88-81 victory.

Travon Broadway led the Reivers with 19 points; while Caleb Huffman (13pts), Emmanuel Ugboh (12pts), and Christian Bentley (10pts) all chipped in double figure scoring efforts for the host team.  DMACC was led by Tray Buchanan's game high 26 point effort for the visiting Bears.

The Reivers return to the court tomorrow evening (11/10/18) with a chance to win their Holiday / Inn Hampton Inn Reiver Classic with a win against Dakota College at Bottineau.  The Jacks from Dakota College at Bottineau were defeated by Cloud County (KS) earlier Friday in game one fo the classic.

Tip-Off between the Reivers and Jacks is set for 7:00pm from Reiver Arena.