Eagles’ Rally Comes Up Short Against Central
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final possession, the #5 Kirkwood Eagles men's basketball team fell just shy of a comeback win inside Johnson Hall on Saturday, dropping a 67–68 decision to Central Community College.
The Eagles (8-3, 1-2 ICCAC) fought with resilience throughout, trimming a three-point halftime deficit and pushing the Raiders throughout the second half. Despite a strong surge after the break, Kirkwood couldn't land the final blow, marking their second ICCAC loss of the season.
Balanced Effort Across the Board
Sophomore Ben Bockman delivered a standout performance, pouring in 18 points while knocking down three triples and grabbing five rebounds. Tyler Netolicky was perfect from the field, finishing 6-for-6 for 13 points, adding four boards and a block in 27 efficient minutes.
Freshman forward Cole Marsh added 10 points, while Manasse Kasongo provided a strong lift off the bench with 9 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
Sophomore guard Chris Coleman played a major role as a facilitator, handing out a team-high 8 assists and consistently creating quality looks for teammates.
Kirkwood shot 45.5% from the field, including 48.3% in the second half as they rallied back. The Eagles also dominated the paint with a 38–24 scoring advantage, but Central's timely perimeter shooting — nine made threes — proved decisive in the one-point outcome.
Up Next
The Eagles now turn their attention to a major ICCAC road test. They travel to Fort Dodge on Wednesday for a top-five showdown against the #4 Iowa Central Tritons, tipping off at 7:30 PM inside Hodges Fieldhouse.
