#1 Eagles Soar to 2–0 Start with Dominant Win Over Grand View JV
Cedar Rapids, IA- The top-ranked Kirkwood Eagles men's basketball team kept its perfect start alive with a commanding 84–49 victory over Grand View University JV on Monday night at Johnson Hall. After a tight first half, the Eagles exploded for 51 second-half points, showcasing their trademark depth, defensive intensity, and inside presence.
Balanced Attack and Frontcourt Power
Sophomore forward Tyler Netolicky anchored the Eagles' offense with an efficient 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds. Freshman big man Manasse Kasongo made his presence felt in the paint, recording a double-double with 10 rebounds and 6 points. Cole Marsh provided a major spark off the bench, scoring 13 points and adding nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of play.
Bench Dominance and Team Efficiency
Kirkwood's depth was on full display, as the bench poured in 52 of the team's 84 points. Ben Bockman continued his hot start to the season, notching 14 points and 4 rebounds, while Yaris Irby added 9 points and 2 assists, connecting on two of his three shots from beyond the arc. The Eagles shared the ball exceptionally well, finishing with 22 assists on 35 made field goals, led by Grayson Wollum's five dimes.
After shooting just 40.6% from the field in the first half, Kirkwood caught fire after the break, connecting on over 61% of their shots in the second half. They owned the paint, outscoring Grand View 58–16 inside and winning the rebounding battle 46–29.
Defensive Intensity
Kirkwood's defense once again proved smothering, forcing 14 turnovers and limiting Grand View to just 29.7% shootingfrom the field and 12.5% from the free-throw line. The Eagles also tallied eight steals and two blocks, holding the Vikings to only 20 points after halftime.
Next Up
The #1 Eagles (2–0) will now turn their attention to the Town and Country Inn & Suites Classic this weekend, where they'll face off against Arkansas State Mid-South and North Arkansas College.
