Spartan surge continues, 81-79

It got a little scary at the end, but the Southwestern men held on to defeat Iowa Lakes 81-79 at home Saturday to secure their fifth win in their last six games.

Just before the holiday break, the Spartans were tied for last place in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference at 0-6, and just 4-11 overall. After Saturday’s win, Southwestern takes a 3-7 conference mark and 7-12 overall record to Norfolk, Nebraska on Wednesday for a matchup with Northeast Community College (4-6 and 8-8).

Coach Darryl Fletcher said a trip to the Minnesota West New Years Classic, where they split two games against North Dakota State College of Science and Dakota County Technical College, was a catalyst for the recent run of good fortune.

“What I’ve seen is bringing them back from Christmas break and going up to Minnesota to play those two games on the 30th and 31st has got us going before we hit conference play,” Fletcher said. “We’re a team with one returner, some transfers and some high school guys, and it’s been a matter of getting everyone on the same page.”

Two key factors in the Spartans’ resurgence have been an improved defense, and more sharing of the basketball offensively to generate good shots. The defense limited Iowa Lakes to 26% shooting from the field in building a 31-23 halftime lead on Saturday.

Alec Belter made two straight 3-pointers in building an early 16-7 lead and the lead reached 12 points at 22-10.

Iowa Lakes cut the margin to six or eight points for much of the first five minutes of the second half, but a steal and dunk by Micah Hines and a pair of free throws by Belter at the 14:38 mark boosted the lead to 12 again at 44-32. Another breakaway dunk by Hines and Justine De La Cruz’s 3-pointer got it to a 17-point spread (49-32).

At that point, however, Iowa Lakes sharpshooter Jermaine Freeman ignited a Laker rally that gradually shaved Southwestern’s lead. Freeman finished with a game-high 26 points, including three 3-pointers.

With 1:29 to play, Freeman’s 3-pointer cut it to one at 75-74. Iowa Lakes took its first lead since 4-3 in the opening minutes when Freeman sank two free throws to make it 76-75 with 1:08 left.

Myles Opare and Niko Wilson made a couple of timely plays to push the Spartans back in front. Opare was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left and added the free throw to make it a 79-76 Spartan lead.

After Freeman answered with another triple to tie it 79-79, Wilson’s drive to the basket ended up being the winning basket with 25 seconds left to make it 81-79. Freeman missed in Iowa Lakes’ final possession, clinching Southwestern’s fifth win in six games.

“Niko was out most of the first semester and we need him at point guard to stabilize us,” Fletcher said. “He doesn’t care about his points, he just cares about winning. We knew Freeman was their main guy and top scorer, but we can’t let one guy beat you. I though Micah did a good job at the end of the game in making it more difficult for him. But, they shot 30 free throws, so that was a big part of them coming back on us.”

The Lakers sank 22 of 30 free throws to 10 of 13 by Southwestern. Four Spartans finished with four fouls as the Spartans committed 22 fouls in the game.

Otherwise, it was an effective performance with 46.4% field goal shooting and effective defense when not fouling. Hines finished with six of the team’s 13 steals, which contributed to 16 Iowa Lakes turnovers.

De La Cruz and Hines each finished with 17 points and Wilson added 16. Belter was the fourth Spartan in double figures with 12 points, along with a team-high five assists and four rebounds.

Southwestern’s next home game is Thursday, Jan. 29 against No. 18-ranked Kirkwood (14-5, 6-4 ICCAC).

SOUTHWESTERN (81) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 32 10-13 81. Micah Hines 8 1-2 17, Justine De La Cruz 7 0-0 17, Niko Wilson 6 4-4 16, Alec Belter 4 2-2 12, Myles Opare 3 1-1 8, Michael Smith 2 2-4 6, Theo Alexandersson Ohnell 1 0-0 3, Noa Daguet 1 0-0 2. FG shooting — 32-69 (46.4 percent). 3-point goals — 7-21 (De La Cruz 3, Belter 2, Ohnell 1, Opare 1). Rebounds — 25 (Wilson 6, Smith 5, Belter 4, De La Cruz 4). Assists — 18 (Belter 5, Wilson 4). Steals — 13 (Hines 6, Opare 3). Blocked shots — 2 (De La Cruz 1, Opare 1). Turnovers — 10. Team fouls — 22. Fouled out — None.

IOWA LAKES (79) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 25 22-30 79. Jermaine Freeman 7 9-11 26, Jorge Castro 5 0-0 12, Cooper Harris 4 1-3 11, Timothy Ofesi 3 4-4 10, Steven Martinez 3 1-1 7, Dominic Preiser 1 2-3 4, Aaron Armstrong 1 2-2 4, Jack Wadlington 0 3-5 3, Germaal Forde 1 0-0 2. FG shooting — 25-58 (43.1 percent). 3-point goals — 7-18 (Freeman 3, Harris 2, Castro 2. Rebounds — 28 (Martinez 10, Ofesi 9). Assists — 11 (Harris 3, Martinez 3). Steals — 8 (Freeman 4). Blocked shots — 4 (Ofesi 2). Turnovers — 16. Team fouls — 15. Fouled out — None.