The Kirkwood men spoiled the host Iowa Central basketball team's tournament run with a run of their own in the final 10 minutes of the Region XI semifinal contest here on Saturday.

The 12th-rated Tritons (23-10 overall, 10-6 in the ICCAC) had their season come to an end inside Hodges Fieldhouse as the No. 14 Eagles (24-7, 13-3) came from behind to win the semifinal battle 64-56.

Iowa Central scrapped their way to a five-point lead with 10:48 left, but the second-seeded Eagles closed the game on a 25-12 run to reach the regional finals.

"Both teams played really hard. It hurts to lose here at home to end the season short of where we wanted to be, but we got beat by a good team," said Iowa Central head coach Dennis Pilcher. "We had a great season this year and I don't think there is any reason for us not to have our heads held high."

Sophomore guard Kurt Alexander scored the game's first points over three minutes into the contest with a jumper. Kirkwood went on a 10-2 run from there to harness early momentum.

The Tritons tied it at 15-15 from a basket by Wiebe Goodyk, and went on to tie it again after consecutive baskets from Kirkwood as Alexander hit a three to tie it at 21 with 4:28 left in the first half.

Jarvis Williams scored with under a minute left for Kirkwood to make it 25-24 in favor of the Tritons heading into the intermission.

Iowa Central held on to a lead throughout the beginning moments of the second half. An alley-oop pass from Alexander to Michael Martin gave Iowa Central a 38-35 lead and a wave of momentum as Martin finished with a reverse dunk.

Another basket from Martin gave the Tritons their biggest advantage of the contest at 44-39 with half of the period left to play, but Kirkwood went on the offensive from that point.

The Eagles shot 57 percent in the second half and made 10-of-16 attempts in the final 10 minutes.

"We played awfully well, but just broke down a little at the end," said Pilcher. "They gave their best effort, and that is something you have to appreciate.

Alexander - a hot prospect who is getting serious Div. I looks - scored a game-high 30 points in his final game as a Triton. The other ICCC starters combined for just 12 points total, though.

Triton post player Terell Parks got into foul trouble early in both halves, and Kirkwood held an advantage both on the boards and points in the paint. Martin chipped in 10 points for the Tritons off the bench.

"Nobody expected us to do much at the beginning of the year, and we finished with 23 wins and ranked 12th," Pilcher said. "I'm very proud of that progress."

The Tritons will lose just two sophomores from this team in Alexander and Josh Henry. Both plan on playing basketball next year at the university level.

Jarvis Williams scored 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to lead Kirkwood. Kaylon Williams - who played for Evansville last season - and Jordan Stoermer each added 12.

The regional final between Kirkwood and Ellsworth will be inside Hodges Fieldhouse today with tip off at 2 p.m.