#1 Kirkwood Splits Weekend in Sedalia, Edges DI #16 Moberly on Irby’s Buzzer-Beater
Sedalia, MO- The top-ranked Kirkwood Eagles traveled to Sedalia, Missouri, this past weekend for a marquee pair of matchups against NJCAA Division I heavyweights Moberly Area CC and State Fair CC—returning home with a dramatic win, a hard-fought loss, and plenty of momentum as they continue their early-season push.
Irby Beats the Buzzer as No. 1 Kirkwood Stuns No. 16 Moberly, 69–68
Friday night delivered instant-classic drama. Trailing late to No. 16 Moberly Area CC, freshman guard Yaris Irby drilled a cold-blooded, last-second three-pointer to lift the Eagles to a 69–68 victory.
Kirkwood relied on balance and toughness all evening:
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Tyler Netolicky anchored the interior with a dominant 12-point, 14-rebound double-double, controlling the glass and impacting every possession.
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Ben Bockman exploded off the bench for 16 points, knocking down two threes and converting all six of his free throws.
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Chris Coleman added 9 points and 4 assists, while Manasse Kasongo gave the Eagles efficient production inside with 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Kirkwood shot 83% from the free-throw line and won the rebounding battle, setting the stage for Irby's game-winning heroics.
Short Turnaround, Tight Finish: Eagles Fall to State Fair 74–70
Less than 24 hours later, the Eagles found themselves in another heavyweight fight—this time falling just short against State Fair CC.
Sophomore guard Germaine Benson delivered a standout performance with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a pair of threes, while also contributing 3 assists and a steal.
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Cole Marsh added 11 points and 6 rebounds, continuing his strong two-way play.
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Irby backed up his game-winner with 9 points and 2 assists, and Chris Coleman remained efficient with 9 points on perfect shooting.
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Netolicky once again controlled the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds to go along with 6 points.
Kirkwood shot a crisp 49% from the field, but State Fair generated key second-chance opportunities and timely perimeter scoring that ultimately swung the game.
Next Up: Road Trip to Quincy
Now 6–1 on the season, the Eagles will look to bounce back quickly as they travel to Quincy, Illinois, on Friday to take on John Wood Community College.
