No. 5 KCC men roll by Southwestern
Thursday, 28 February 2019 06:06 Jim Ecker Kirkwood
It was plenty good enough.
The fifth-ranked Eagles spanked Southwestern, 77-55, in an ICCAC men's basketball game at Johnson Hall.
Kirkwood finished the last eight minutes of the first half with a resounding 21-2 surge, then outscored the visitors 10-0 during the first four minutes of the second half.
That 31-2 blitz gave the Eagles total control of the ballgame, raising the score to 53-23.
"We got consecutive stops," said Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen. "That's something we always preach. Try to get two or three stops in a row, because that usually allows you to go on a run.
"I think it started with our defense and we were able to get out in transition for some easier looks."
Devonte Thedford, who joined the starting lineup several weeks ago, fueled the 21-2 run at the end of the first half with 10 points on strong drives to the basket.
All-American Doug Wilson scored the first eight points of the second half as the Eagles continued to soar. Thedford and Wilson are both Des Moines Hoover grads and they sealed the deal.
"They were good," said Petersen. "Obviously DT (Thedford) has played well for us of late. He can get into the paint for us and he's a guy who can finish at the rim in the guard court. That's been a nice boost for us in the last few games.
"He's our best-attacking guard," Petersen continued. "We need that to help our offense. He's been doing a good job and has been consistent."
Kirkwood raised its records to 23-4 overall and 11-2 in the conference. The Eagles are one game behind NIACC in the ICCAC standings with one game left in the regular season (at Ellsworth on Saturday).
Wilson finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Thedford and Allante Pickens scored 13 apiece. Seybian Sims and Luke Appel had eight rebounds.
Jordan Doss scored 14 points for Southwestern (3-25, 3-10).
SOUTHWESTERN (55): R.Warren 3 1-1 8, W.Warren 6 0-2 13, Persich 4 0-0 10, Moran 2 0-0 4, Kueth 0 0-0 0, Diggs 1 0-0 2, Doss 6 1-2 14, Gafeney 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 2-5 55.
KIRKWOOD (77): Sims 2 1-2 6, Pickens 5 0-0 13, Kasperbauer 1 0-0 2, Wilson 6 6-6 18, Appel 1 0-0 2, Thedford 4 5-8 13, Sartorius 1 0-0 2, Dee 2 0-0 4, Clark 0 0-0 0, Stephenson 3 0-1 7, Biernacki 1 1-2 4, Gosnell 2 2-2 6, Arrington 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 15-21 77.
Halftime - Kirkwood 43, Southwestern 23. 3-point goals - Southwestern 5 (Persich 2, R.Warren 1, W.Warren 1, Doss 1), Kirkwood 6 (Pickens 3, Sims 1, Stephenson 1, Biernacki 1).
