NIACC guard goes on scoring spree

Too many turnovers, too many missed layups and too much Myles Tucker.

That was the story of Southwestern’s 78-69 home loss to North Iowa Area Community College Saturday afternoon. The Trojans came to Creston in last place in the ICCAC at 2-7, and 10-13 overall. Southwestern has been in the mix for a top-half seeding in the regional tournament at 4-4 in league play and 8-13 overall.

But, a series of missed layups and empty possessions made it impossible to offset the 42-point night by Tucker, a 6-3 guard from Ottawa, Ill. Tucker made 5 of 15 shots from 3-point range and went 11 of 15 at the free throw line in his 42-point night, which ranks as the eighth-highest single-game scoring total in NIACC history.

Southwestern controlled much of the early action, holding a 25-17 lead in the first half. But a cold stretch from the field late in the half opened the door for NIACC to take a 29-27 lead into the break.

The Spartans again got off to a good start in the second half, moving in front 33-29. Tucker hit two free throws for a 72-69 NIACC led with a minute to play Southwestern was called for traveling at :38 and the Trojans converted two more free throws for a 74-69 lead.

A missed layup by the Spartans at :23, facing that five-point deficit, was the final blow as NIACC added two more free throws by Tucker and a layup for the final nine-point margin.

“He (Tucker) is a good player, but we just weren’t ready to go,” Southwestern coach Reggie Kindle said. “It’s been the name of our season — turnovers and missed layups. It’s on us. At some point we have to look ourselves in the mirror and it starts with me. We have to figure out a way to be better.”

The Spartans go from the last-place team as the opponent to the first-place team in a trip tonight (Wednesday) to Estherville to take on Iowa Lakes, which is atop the ICCAC at 8-1 and 16-6 overall.

“They are long, athletic and well-coached

,” Kindle said. “They knock down shots. They’re a tough team. We have to be ready to go.”

SOUTHWESTERN (69) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 24 14-21 69. Devin Tomlinson 9 4-5 22, Drake Davison 5 1-3 12, Brance Baker 3 2-2 11, Joel Villanueva 3 0-0 9, Justin Bussey 3 2-3 8, Quincy Evans 0 5-8 5, Tyus Willis 1 0-0 2. FG shooting — 24-54 (44.4 percent). 3-point goals — 7-25 (Villanueva 3, Baker 3, Davison 1). Rebounds — 24 (Tomlinson 10, Baker 5, Evans 4). Assists — 15 (Bussey 5, Baker 3). Steals — 9 (Bussey 4, Villanueva 2). Turnovers — 13. Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — Evans.

NIACC (78) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 27 17-24 78. Myles Tucker 13 11-15 42, Jaydin Dunlap 3 2-4 8, Koen Derry 4 0-0 8, James Jennings 3 0-0 7, Aileek Ward 2 1-2 6, Jeremiah Babers 2 2-2 6, Tre’Von Shedrick 1 0-1 1. FG shooting — 27-45 (60 percent). 3-point goals — 7-18 (Tucker 5, Jennings 1, Ward 1). Rebounds — 26 (Tucker 6, Dunlap 5, Babers 5). Assists — 13 (Babers 5). Steals — 6 (Tucker 2). Blocked shots — 2 (Derry 2). Turnovers — 12. Team fouls — 18. Fouled out — None.