Stifling defense earns Reivers another dominant road victory

Kansas City, KS -- If a let down after Iowa Western's 115-65 victory at North Iowa Area (NIACC) last Saturday night (11/18) was a concern entering their Tuesday night (11/21) contest with the homestanding Kansas City-Kansas Blue Devils, it never materialized as the #20 Reivers completed a forty minute effort on both ends of the floor to collect a decisive 100-42 road victory.

In a game where every Reiver on the roster scored, and no Reiver played more then 21 minutes, the team traveling from Council Bluffs showed a complete focus of effort throughout the contest which was Iowa Western's seventh victory in it's eight games.  The Reivers stifling collective defensive effort held KCK to 30% from the floor shooting (17/55), and just 9% from behind the three point arch (1/11).  Iowa Western played two complete halves of basketball defensively with little to no let up as reflected by the 20 points allowed in the first half and just 22 points allowed in the second frame.  The defensive performance was so complete that the Reivers collimated the evening by forcing a five second baseline turnover call as the Blue Devils attempted to inbound under their own basket during the final possession of the contest.

Offensively, Iowa Western reached the century mark for the fourth time this young season (with two other games having reached 99 points).  The Reivers were led in scoring by Patrick Dembley's 18, followed by Adalberto Diaz's second straight 12 point performance.  Shadeed Shabazz was a perfect 4/4 from the floor including 3/3 from behind the three point arch for 11 points, Jevon Smith and Emmanuel Ugboh also contributed with 11 points as well to round out the double figure scorers, in a game that once again did see every Reiver suited up score at least a basket.  Isaiah Wade's performance on the glass was of note as well.  The 6'8 power forward grabbed 12 rebounds (9 in the first half alone) in just 15 minutes of play, as the margin of victory limited anyone from playing major minutes in the second half.

The Reivers return to the newly renamed "Reiver Arena" (formerly Kanesville Arena) this Saturday (11/25) against North Platte (NE).  It will be the first game between the two respected NJCAA D1 programs since they both met in the 2013 NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, KS where the Reivers won 79-74 in the national "Sweet 16" match-up. The opening tip this Saturday between the Reivers and Knights is slated for 2:00pm.