Council Bluffs, IA -- Iowa Western celebrated sophomore night for seven of its Reivers with a high octane run-and-gun evening at Reiver Arena Tuesday (2/18) evening. The visiting Pirates from North Central Missouri entered the contest having won 23 of its previous 25 games and proved to be every bit the high scoring team they have been all season long. However, the Reivers were up to the challenge and bested the Pirates at their own game for an entertaining 102-91 victory.
The scoring fireworks began almost immediately as both teams not only traded baskets but traded dunks for much of the contest's first four minutes. In that time frame, there were a total of six jams at the rim, two from NCMC and four from the Reivers, three of those from Caleb Huffman who had one of his best performances as a Reiver. On his final regular-season home game in Reiver Arena, the two-year sophomore poured in a career-high 30 points, much of those points coming during an eight-minute onslaught of his own in the first half. Huffman would go on to also lead the Reivers in rebounding with six boards on the night. Every point and rebound was needed, as the Pirates continued to score at will as well; and by half's end the home team, while having scored 50 points, only led by three at 50-47.
North Central Missouri had successfully worn down teams all season long with their 40 minutes of full-court pressure, and that was their plan once again in Council Bluffs. However, the Reivers would have none of that, as they continually handled the Pirate full-court press all evening, often times scoring on the attack at the back end of the NCMC press. Ironically, using poise and multiple guard rotations to beat the press, Iowa Western would ultimately beat the Pirates at their own game. The Reivers' own defense caused 16 turnovers, with 15 of those being steals; many leading to easy baskets. In contrast, Iowa Western only turned the ball over 9 times all evening while having to face more full-court pressure than their counterparts, all the more impressive due to the game having such a higher number of possessions than many regulation contests. Indeed Iowa Western would go on to shoot 56% from the field, and more importantly, take twelve more shots because of that previously mentioned "plus turnover margin" for the evening.
Along with the aforementioned Huffman, the Reivers got other strong performances from Jalen Dalcourt (23pts), Kaleb Thornton (22pts), Josiah Strong (13pts-4rebs), and Damontrez Ruffin (10pts-5rebs). North Central Missouri, who dropped just their third game of the season, was led by Atavian Butler's 22 point effort.
Up next for Iowa Western is a trip to Concordia, KS this Friday (2/21) evening to take on the Thunderbirds of Cloud County for the final game of the regular season. Iowa Western played Cloud County in the final game of the first semester back on Dec. 17 at Reiver Arena, where the Reivers prevailed in another high scoring affair 93-88. Tip-time between the Reivers and Thunderbirds is slated for 6:00 pm.
