Marshalltown, IA -- Iowa Western followed up it's complete forty minute win over Northeast Wednesday (1/29) evening at Reiver Arena with it's best road performance of the season in a 81-76 victory over Marshalltown. With the road win, Iowa Western swept the season series with the Tigers and moves the Reivers to 4-2 in conference play; into a tie for second place with Southeastern, and just one game back of first place in the ICCAC Conference standings.
The Reivers came out of the starter's gate ready to go Saturday (2/1) evening, scoring the game's first three baskets. From there both teams settled into the contest with solid basketball. Iowa Western turned the ball over just three times in the game's opening twenty minutes, while Marshalltown only gave the ball away on four occasions. Though takeaways were hard to come by in the first half, both team's defensive efforts were very much present. particularly from the three point line where the Reivers held Marshalltown to just two three point field goals. Two returning Reiver sophomores from last season Caleb Huffman and Seneca Louis carried much of the scoring load in the game's opening frame, with Huffman (14 of his game's 18 points) and Louis (10 of his game's 12 points) combining for 24 of Iowa Western's 36 first half points, as the Reivers headed to the locker room ahead 36-31 at intermission.
Marshalltown opened the second half slowly chipping away at the Reiver halftime advantage, and at the 13:12 mark took it's first lead at 51-50. That lead was short lived however, as Iowa Western then steadied itself and went on a 8-2 run of their own. Reiver guards Josiah Strong, Jalen Dalcourt, and Kaleb Thornton picked up in the second frame where Huffman and Louis had left off in the first half, as the three guards joined the two returners in double figures for the evening. Dalcourt led the Reivers in both rebounds and assists with a complete ballgame of 14pts, 7rebs, and 5 assists; not to be outdone by Thornton's 15pt, 6reb, 4 assist effort. Strong would go on to score 17 of his team high 19 points in the game's second twenty minutes; as the Reivers held off Marshalltown to collect a significant conference road victory.
The Iowa Western win, along with Indian Hills' victory over Southeastern, moves the Reivers up into a tie with the Blackhawks just one game out of first place behind the Warriors for the conference lead. Up next for Iowa Western are those first place Warriors, as Indian Hills travels to Reiver Arena; where Iowa Western is 3-0 in conference play this season, Saturday (2/8) night. Tip time is slated for 7:0pm.
