IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- After opening the season with 10 consecutive wins, the Ellsworth men's basketball team endured a modest 2-game losing streak.  The Panthers emphatically put an end to that skid, however, on Wednesday night by thrashing NIACC, 108-72, at Dittmer Gym.

The Panthers put 54 points on the board in racing to a big halftime advantage, then scored 54 more after intermission to get their 11th win of the year.  It was the 6th time in 13 contests that ECC scored over 100 points.

A career-best 20 points by Rich Ashu paced the Panthers' scoring.  The big man from London, England, made 7-of-8 field goal attempts and 6-of-7 free throws on the way to his best scoring game as a Panther.  He also grabbed 6 rebounds.  Ellsworth won the board battle, 52-32, and 17 of ECC's rebounds came on the offensive glass.  The winners also shot 49 percent from the floor.  Ellsworth, the NJCAA DII leader averaging over 10 blocked shots a game had a dozen blocks against the Trojans.

Dior Davis supported Ashu with 16 points and Issakha Niang scored 14 and pulled down 6 rebounds to go along with 5 dunks.  Ellsworth got 10 points apiece from Arlandus Keyes, Jordan Glenn-Hawkins and Shawn Fulcher, who dished out 8 assists.  Saliou Seye led in rebounds with 12 and chipped in 9 points.

After losing 7 games in a row to NIACC, ECC has won the last 2 meetings between the long-time rivals.

The Panthers now have a week off before returning to action against Southwestern CC at home on Dec. 14.