NCMC blitzes Iowa Western in Top-20 showdown

The North Central Missouri College Pirates started fast at Iowa Western Community College on Tuesday night, jumping out to a double-digit first half lead, and cruising in the second half, with the #4 ranked Pirates beating the #17th ranked Reivers 89-70 in action broadcast on KGOZ FM 101.7. 

With the duo of Tyler King and Jon Carroll combining for 30 of the Pirates 41 first half points, NCMC led 41-27 going into the break.  Among numerous first half highlights were a defensive stop and quick fast break that ended with a slam dunk by King.  Tom Johnson had the call on KGOZ: 

Perhaps the only mid-game concern for North Central came from only 11 points from the supporting cast around King and Carroll, but the scoring depth showed up in the second half, with redshirt freshman Camden Bennett finishing the night with 19 points, while sophomore guard Giovanni Mack scored 15, all after the halftime break.   King finished the game with a 25 point effort for the 7-0 Pirates, with Carroll adding 23. 

For Iowa Western, a 5-2 team with losses to only #3 ranked Macomb and now #4 ranked North Central, DaCarter Coleman had 15 points, with Amaahd Roberts contributing 14 points and Shontez Anderson 12. 

The Pirates will look to push their record to 8-0 on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois to play the Loggers in a 3 o’clock tipoff. 

The Lady Pirates had the night off, one day after moving up a spot to #12 in the NJCAA D-2 national poll.  The Lady Pirates, winners of five consecutive games after a season-opening three point loss at #7 ranked Highland in early November, play tonight (Wednesday night) at 5:30 in Quincy, Illinois against the John Wood Community College Trail Blazers.