#10 Eagles Battle Early, Fall at No. 2 DMACC in Boone
Boone, IA- The #10 Kirkwood Eagles faced a stiff road test Saturday afternoon in Boone, Iowa, squaring off with the #2-ranked DMACC Bears in a crucial ICCAC matchup. Kirkwood came out poised and competitive, trading punches with one of the nation's elite teams and keeping the game within reach through the opening half.
The Eagles stayed composed early and executed on both ends of the floor, limiting DMACC's transition opportunities and finding quality looks offensively. Kirkwood trailed just 32–25 at halftime, firmly within striking distance and showing the toughness needed to compete in a hostile environment.
Manasse Kasongo led the Eagles with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and added three rebounds while drawing contact inside. Cole Marsh finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, knocking down two three-pointers and providing a steady presence on the glass. Ben Bockman contributed nine points and four rebounds, going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, while Grayson Wollum added eight points on an efficient 3-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Yaris Irby impacted the game as a distributor, recording six assists to go along with three points and three rebounds, helping Kirkwood move the ball against DMACC's defensive pressure.
Despite trailing by only seven at halftime, Kirkwood was outscored 53–37 in the second half as DMACC capitalized on turnovers and transition opportunities. The Bears scored 31 points off Kirkwood turnovers and finished with a 38–22 edge in points in the paint, allowing them to steadily extend the margin. Kirkwood continued to compete, but DMACC's efficiency after the break proved to be the difference as the game slipped away late.
Up Next
Kirkwood returns home to Johnson Hall this Wednesday, January 7th, hosting Iowa Lakes at 7:30 PM.
