Kirkwood Comes Up Short in ICCAC Opener Against #6 Ellsworth
Cedar Rapids, IA- The stage was set inside Johnson Hall for a top-ten showdown to open ICCAC play, but the #1 Kirkwood Eagles couldn't overcome a red-hot second half from #6 Ellsworth, falling 94–86 on Tuesday night. In a game that rarely separated by more than a couple possessions, the Panthers used timely scoring and a surging finish to hand Kirkwood its first conference loss of the season.
A Tight First Half Sets the Tone
Kirkwood came out sharp, shooting over 51% in the first half and taking a 44–41 lead into the locker room. Chris Coleman powered the Eagles early, attacking off the dribble and finishing with 17 points and 6 rebounds while playing a team-high 34 minutes. Freshman Cole Marsh added efficiency from the perimeter and playmaking in transition, tallying 9 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
The Eagles excelled beyond the arc, hitting 40% of their threes in the opening half and keeping Ellsworth off balance with quick ball movement—16 assists on 29 made shots for the game.
Panthers Surge Late
Ellsworth flipped the energy after halftime, shooting a blistering 66.7% from the field in the second half to retake control. The Panthers' bench delivered a massive punch with 58 combined points, including a game-high 21 from Alex Charlotin, who went 9–of–12 from the floor. Rav Randhawa and Jayden Pretty chipped in 12 apiece, helping Ellsworth outscore Kirkwood 53–42 over the final 20 minutes.
Kirkwood continued to generate quality looks but couldn't keep pace, shooting just 41% after the break. Ellsworth's physicality on the glass and high-pressure defense down the stretch ultimately swung momentum their way.
Balanced Effort from the Eagles
Despite the loss, Kirkwood showcased strong depth and balanced production:
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Ben Bockman delivered his best offensive outing of the season off the bench, scoring 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting while knocking down two threes.
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Tyler Netolicky anchored the interior with 11 points and a team-best 9 rebounds, staying active around the rim on both ends.
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Manasse Kasongo brought energy in his 21 minutes, finishing with 10 points and 7 boards while going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.
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Yaris Irby provided a lift from deep, hitting three triples and finishing with 9 points.
Kirkwood matched Ellsworth with 33 total rebounds and nearly mirrored them in paint points (40–42), but the Panthers' scoring depth and late-game shot-making proved decisive.
Up Next
The Eagles will be back on the road this Saturday at 3 PM, heading to Marshalltown to take on the Tigers in another meaningful early-season conference test.
