Ottumwa -- The one-two punch of Jerome Jones and Gary Ricks, Jr. helped Indian Hills hold off a determined NIACC team and the Warriors prevailed, 82-74, in a non-conference game at the Hellyer Center on Wednesday night.
Jones had 28 points and Ricks scored 24, season highs for both, as they combined to hold off a late rally by the Trojans. NIACC (10-10) chopped a 12-point deficit down to four in the final minute, but Ricks buried his 6th three-pointer of the night and Jones added a free throw for the final margin.
Jones had 21 of his points in the second half and he grabbed 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Ricks' 6 3's were a single-game high and he's made 55 three-pointers for the season.
IHCC (18-6) was able to open up a 20-12 first-half lead, but NIACC used an 11-2 run to go ahead 23-22. The Trojans built the lead to five at 31-26 before consecutive baskets by Ricks, Stephen Coles and Jones put Indian Hills ahead. Jones' three enabled IHCC to lead by a point at halftime.
The Warriors had a 9-2 run early in the second half, punctuated by a three-point play by Jones, to lead by seven, but again NIACC roared back.
When Andre Garth hit a jump shot with around 8 minutes to play, NIACC had overtaken the Warriors again and led 55-54.
It was Ricks who provided the Warriors with the go-ahead points on a three-pointer and IHCC didn't trail again.
They tried to put away NIACC, grabbing a 74-62 advantage on a pair of free throws by Dijon Farr. However, the Trojans had one final rally, slicing the lead to four twice in the final 2:00, before Ricks and Jones allowed IHCC to hold on.
After shooting around 40% in the first half, each team warmed up in the second half. NIACC shot 59% (16-27) in the last half and the Warriors were at 64% (16-25). Both squads made over half of their 3's in the final 20 minutes, combining to hit four straight in four possessions in one stretch.
Nick Stromer led NIACC with 20 points and Jerel Jernigan added 16.
Indian Hills returns to conference play on Saturday night with a road test at Marshalltown CC.
INDIAN HILLS 82, NIACC 74
INDIAN HILLS Stephen Coles 4 1-3 9, Jerome Jones 11 2-4 28, Derrick Hill 0 1-2 1, Dijon Farr 3 3-4 9, Bruno Ferreira 1 1-3 3, Riley Stuve 0 1-2 1, Chad Dillard 1 4-4 7, Gary Ricks, Jr. 9 0-0 24, Latroy Taylor 0 0-0 0 Team 29 13-22 82
NIACC Nick Stromer 9 1-2 20, Jerel Jernigan 6 0-0 16, Kendale Dunn 1 0-2 2, Nathan Buchheit 2 0-0 4, Andrew Bolton 0 0-0 0, Chris Throne 4 0-0 11, Ricky Slaughter 0 0-0 0,Kendall Brown 0 0-0 0, Matt Thompson 2 1-2 6, Brandon Bell 2 1-2 5, Andre Garth 3 3 -4 9 Team 29 6-12 74
Halftime score: Indian Hills 35, NIACC 34; Three-point field goals: IHCC 11 (Ricks 6, Jones 4, Dillard 1), NIACC 9 (Jernigan 4, Throne 3, Stromer 1, Thompson 1)
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