Council Bluffs, IA -- In a game for a share of the ICCAC conference lead, Iowa Western tried to net it's third win over an NJCAA top twenty team this season (with previous victories against #9 Moberly (MO), and #16 Southeastern (IA)); as they battled against NJCAA #5 ranked Indian Hills Saturday (2/8) evening at Reiver Arena.
In the game's opening moments it looked as though the visiting Warriors were going to run away they scored on six of their first seven possessions, often times using their significant size advantage, gobbling up their own misses and getting second-chance points. After that opening barrage, the Reivers found themselves down 19-7 and in need of steadying themselves. That they did, as they began to execute offensively and limiting earlier turnovers that had hurt them in the game's first few moments. The Reivers actually went to the locker room shooting a higher percentage from the floor, but the 11 offensive rebounds in the first half gained by Indian Hills gave them nine extra shots and six extra free throw attempts in the game's first half. Despite this, the Reivers playing even the remainder of the half; and though Iowa Western still trailed at half 45-33, the game was set for a competitive second twenty minutes.
In the second half, the Reivers were able to hold off Indian Hills better on the offensive glass and limiting the second-chance points that had hurt them too much the first frame, the defensive rebounds now secured enabling Iowa Western to get into their transition game more effectively than in the first half. Midway through the second half, Iowa Western began to make its most significant challenge of the contest. After baskets by Caleb Huffman, Josiah Strong, and Seneca Louis on consecutive possessions, the Reivers trimmed the lead to six points with a little over six minutes to play. Throughout the entire contest, Iowa Western had minimized the Warriors potent three-point attack; however, Indian Hills showed why they are the #5 team in the country; showing a resolve after being pressed by the Reivers for 35 minutes of play and closed the show strong. Indian Hills was able to break free and score on their seventh and eighth three-pointers of the night in a key run that separated the two battling teams. The game's final margin of 82-63 was not indicative of the competitive nature of the contest, but did display the explosive scoring ability the Warriors have presented all season long.
Though the loss moved the Reivers out of regular-season title hopes, there is still much to play for in Iowa Western's next, and final, regular-season conference game against Southeastern this upcoming Saturday (2/15) evening. The Reivers and Blackhawks have positioned themselves for a first-round bye with their winning conference record and into the ICCAC tournament's semi-final games. What is still at stake is the higher seed and more importantly the location of that semi-final affair that comes with that higher seed. Because of the Reivers thrilling 75-74 overtime win over Southeastern at Reiver Arena back on Jan 22nd; an Iowa Western win this Saturday would give the Reivers the tie-breaker; as a result of the head-to-head sweep of the Blackhawks for the season. That game on the 22nd was a classic tilt that included 27 lead changes and 10 ties. Tip-time between the Reivers and Blackhawks from West Burlington, IA is slated for 7:00 pm.
