Spartans start fast in 34-point victory

A 13-0 start in the first five minutes set the tone for Southwestern’s dominating 87-53 win over the Wartburg JV here Tuesday night.

By the time the Spartans tacked on another 10-0 run near the end of the half, the Spartans had all but safely tucked away the victory with a 45-23 lead at intermission.

Jaylon Smith scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the first half. Mataika Koyamainavure, 6-7, 240-pound center from Fiji, provided 15 points and controlled the inside along with 6-7 freshman Jok Kut of Lincoln, Neb., and 6-7 freshman Simon Joseph of Des Moines. Joseph finished with 13 points.

When Smith sank a 3-pointer with 13 minutes left in the half, the Spartans were in front 23-7 on their way to improving to 5-0 for the season.

“We really set the tone from the start defensively, which is something we preach on a daily basis,” SWCC coach Todd Lorensen said. “It always helps when a couple shots go in, which they did early. Then we did have a lull in both halves. We didn’t execute some things that we’ve been working on.”

Wartburg, like Northwestern College, runs a disciplined system that is unlike some of the four-year JV programs on the Southwestern schedule. It’s a team that can get an athletic, fast-breaking team like SWCC a little antsy with long, patient offensive possessions. It’s not unlike the former Southwestern system under coach Mike Holmes.

“I think we learned that we have a lot of work to do,” Lorensen said. “It’s great to find that out when you are still successful from a won-loss perspective. Tonight the discipline that they played with got us a little antsy at times, because they wanted to get out and run and make some plays. These guys (Wartburg) did a good job of sticking with what they wanted to do and it caused us some issues.”

That will not be the case Saturday, when the Spartans get one of their stiffest early tests at 3-3 Southeast Nebraska in Beatrice, coached by former Red Oak coach Joel Wooten.

“They have some athletes,” Lorensen said. “We have some work to do to get ready for that one.”

SOUTHWESTERN (87) — Jaylon Smith 6 4-5 19, Mataika Koyamainavure 7 1-3 15, Simon Joseph 4 5-5 13, TJ Bower 3 0-2 7, Jok Kut 2 3-6 7, Josh Tolbert 2 0-0 5, Ahmad Newsome 1 2-3 4, Dylan Mason 2 0-0 4, Marquise Yarborough 1 0-0 3, Malik Williams 1 0-0 3, Tanner Kellogg 1 0-0 3, Josh Kirk 1 0-0 2, Austin Weber 0 1-2 1. Totals — 31 17-28 87, 3-point goals — 8 (Smith 3, Tolbert 1, Yarborough 1, Williams 1, Bower 1, Kellogg 1). Fouls — 12. Fouled out — None.

WARTBURG JV (53) — Sawyer Herman 5 0-0 12, Trenton Gosnell 3 2-2 10, Hunter Brunsvold 3 3-4 9, Colten Connelly 2 1-1 6, Brad Dunlap 2 0-0 6, Kollin Cuvelier 2 0-0 4, Justin Anderlik 1 2-2 4. Totals 18 8-9 53. 3-point goals — Gosnell 2, Herman 2, Dunlap 2. Fouls — 23. Fouled out — None.