Second-Half Turnaround Lifts IHCC to Win

Ottumwa -- For the better part of 29 minutes, it looked like Kirkwood would gain a season sweep over Indian Hills. Then, the Warriors slumbering offense awoke and the better execution on the offensive end of the floor combined with a tenacious defense enabled the Warriors to come from behind for a 61-48 victory in the Hy-Vee Classic on Saturday night at the Hellyer Center.

Kirkwood had knocked off the Warriors, 66-55, last month in Cedar Rapids. Nine minutes into the second half of the rematch, the Eagles had a 39-35 lead and Indian Hills had made only two field goals after intermission.

Dijon Farr ignited the IHCC comeback with a fastbreak layup to make it a two-point game. Aaron Austin's two free throws tied the game for Indian Hills with just under 11 minutes to play.

Brian Wilson then gave the Warriors their first lead of the night when he scored on a short-range hook shot. From there, Indian Hills was off and running, outscoring Kirkwood 20-9 over the final nine minutes to win, 61-48.

The Warriors outscored Kirkwood 33-17 in the second half as IHCC improved their season record to 9-and-3 with their fourth win in a row.

After Wilson's field goal put the Warriors on top, Austin followed with a three-pointer. Lamar Wall gave KCC their first field goal in over five minutes, but the Warriors ran off nine quick points to break the game open.

Austin had two field goals in that span and Larry Stone drained a three. Stone scored a couple minutes later, concluding a 23-4 IHCC run.

Kirkwood scored the first eight points of the game before Indian Hills got on the board on back-to-back three's by Dwan McMillan. The Eagles eventually built a 12-point lead at 22-10, but the Warriors chipped away at the deficit and tied the score on a pair of free throws by E.J. Hicks in the final minute of the first half .

Jordan Stoermer sent the visitors to the lockerroom with a halftime lead when he nailed a three-pointer, his third of the half,with four seconds on the clock.

Kirkwood managed only six field goals in the second half though, four of those by Jarvis Williams. He led the Eagles with 20 points.

Austin scored 13 of his season-high 20 points in the final half for Indian Hills. McMillan scored 13 and Stone had 10. The Warriors shot 58% for the game, 23-of-40 from the field.

IHCC will try to make it five straight wins when they host NIACC on Wednesday night at 7:00.

INDIAN HILLS 61, KIRKWOOD 48

INDIAN HILLS Dwan McMillan 5 1-2 13, Aaron Austin 7 4-4 20, Brandon Garrett 0 0-0 0, Bruno Ferreira 1 0-0 2, Derrick Hill 1 0-0 3, Dijon Farr 2 0-1 4, Larry Stone 4 0-0 10, Brian Wilson 2 1-2 5, E.J. Hicks 1 2-2 4 Team 23 8-11 61

KIRKWOOD Trevell Rivers 3 1-3 7, Richie Thompson, Jr. 0 0-2 0, Lamar Wall 2 2-2 6, Jordan Gentry 0 0-0 0, Jarvis Williams 7 6-6 20, Brandon Pullman 1 0-0 2, Kaylon Williams 0 1-2 1, Jordan Stoermer 3 0-0 9, Alex Coleman 1 1-2 3, Nick Kohlhof 0 0-0 0, Boubacar Camara 0 0-0 0 Team 17 11-17 48

Halftime score: Kirkwood 31, Indian Hills 28; Three-point field goals: IHCC 7 (McMillan 2, Austin 2, Stone 2, Hill 1), KCC 3 (Stoermer 3)