IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- The basketball season is barely a week old and the Ellsworth Panthers have already knocked off two NJCAA DII ranked teams.  On Tuesday night, the Panthers defeated 7th-rated North Central Missouri College, 67-59, at Dittmer Gym, handing NCMC its first loss of the year.  ECC had opened with a victory a week earlier against Bryant & Stratton College, who was 17th in the preseason poll.  That game was also on the Panthers' homecourt.

Against North Central, Ellsworth (3-1) took a 28-21 halftime lead and increased that margin by a point by the final buzzer.  

Freshman guard Tom Stanley led the ECC attack with 19 points and nailed three of their four 3-pointers.  Richie Warren had his 4th consecutive double-figure scoring contest with 14 and Ra'mir Scott also scored 14 while dishing out five assists and also had four steals.  The Panthers committed 29 turnovers in their only loss, to Milwaukee Area Tech last Saturday, but nearly cut that number in half against NCMC with 15.  The Milwaukee school is rated 12th this week, meaning three of the first four Ellsworth opponents have been nationally ranked.  Two conference foes are also in the NJCAA top 10, Kirkwood at #1 and DMACC at #6, and Iowa Lakes is rated #14.

The Tuesday victory was the first of four consecutive home games for the Ellsworth men.  They will take on the William Penn JV this Friday, the Waldorf JV on Sunday and the Loras JV Nov. 16.