Eagles Hold Off Iowa Lakes in Tight Road Test
Estherville, IA- The #16 Kirkwood Eagles Men's Basketball team faced a much stiffer challenge the second time around against Iowa Lakes, but showed poise down the stretch to escape Estherville with a 67–64 road victory on Wednesday night.
Kirkwood entered the matchup having beaten the Lakers by 25 points earlier this season, yet from the opening tip, it was clear this contest would be far more competitive. Iowa Lakes edged the Eagles 27–26 at halftime, forcing Kirkwood to grind through a physical, back-and-forth first half.
The Eagles responded with their best basketball after the break, shooting over 58 percent in the second half and outscoring the Lakers 41–37. Kirkwood leaned on balanced scoring and interior production, finishing with a 36–24 advantage in points in the paint while also generating nine second-chance points. Bench play proved to be a major difference, as Kirkwood's reserves contributed 35 points compared to none from Iowa Lakes' bench.
Richard Lindsey Jr. and Chris Coleman led the way offensively, each scoring 13 points, while Manasse Kasongo added nine points and seven rebounds. Cole Marsh chipped in nine points, and Grayson Wollum provided an efficient spark off the bench, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Despite struggles from the free-throw line late, the Eagles made enough plays defensively to protect the narrow lead in the final minutes and secure the win.
The victory marked another important road result for Kirkwood as it continues to navigate a challenging conference slate.
Next Up
The Eagles return home next, hosting the NIACC Trojans on Saturday at 2 p.m. in what promises to be another key matchup.
