Freshman Jaden Jefferson led four players in double figures with 21 points as the DMACC men's basketball team handed Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) an 87-73 loss February 15 inside the DMACC gymnasium.
Sophomore Trevian Carson of Des Moines recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and freshmen Dylan Omweno of Apple Valley, Minn., and Andrew Austin of Rock Rapids came away with 18 and 12 points respectively as the Bears improved to 25-2 overall and 14-1 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) with their 13th consecutive victory. The winning streak includes a 94-82 win over IWCC Jan. 15 at Council Bluffs.
DMACC, ranked fourth in the Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), has a one-game lead over third-ranked Kirkwood Community College (KCC) in the ICCAC Division II standings with three games remaining on the schedule, capped by a home matchup against KCC Feb. 24. The Eagles are 13-2 in league play.
DMACC controlled the tempo in its most recent win over IWCC after using a 9-0 run to open up a 22-12 lead with 11 minutes, 40 seconds to play in the first half. The Bears enjoyed a 39-23 advantage with six minutes to play in the half before an 18-9 run got the Reivers within seven at 48-41 at halftime.
DMACC never trailed in the second half but had just a three-point advantage at 72-69 with 5:33 remaining in the game. The Bears then got baskets from Omweno and Austin, a traditional three-point play from sophomore Da'Shon Fisher of Iowa City, a pair of free throws by Carson, another basket by Fisher and a pair of free throws from Jefferson to cap a 13-0 run that gave them an 85-69 lead with 1:17 remaining.
DMACC shot 50 percent from the field, hitting 33 of 66 field goal attempts, including 6-of-20 from three-point range. The Bears were 15-of-19 from the free throw line.
IWCC, which fell to 16-11 and 8-8, shot 49 percent on 28 field goals from 57 shots. The Reivers were 10-of-23 from three-point range and 7-of-12 from the free throw line.
Carson's 10 rebounds led DMACC to a 36-32 advantage in rebounding with Jefferson and Fisher added seven rebounds apiece. Jefferson, sophomore Demerius Shakur of Milwaukee, Wis., and freshman Rylan Smith of Lincoln, Neb., dished out three assists apiece and Omweno topped the Bears in steals with five.
The DMACC men's basketball team will play Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) Feb. 19 at Estherville. ILCC is 18-9 overall and a distant third in the ICCAC at 8-7. The Lakers dropped an 88-71 decision to DMACC Jan. 8 inside the DMACC gymnasium.