IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- The Ellsworth CC men's basketball team remained in a 1st-place tie with DMACC in the ICCAC standings after ECC dismantled NIACC, 101-77, at Dittmer Gym Wednesday evening.  The Panthers are undefeated in 9 home contests this season and the latest victory sets up a battle between the 2 league leaders, ECC and DMACC, in Boone on Saturday.  Both teams are 9-1 in conference play and Ellsworth already owns a win against the Bears, a 101-83 decision back on Jan. 6.

Ellsworth scored 18 points in a row in one stretch of the 1st half against NIACC and coasted to a 56-25 advantage at intermission.  The Panthers shot just under 50 percent from the field and knocked down 10 3s, the 3rd straight game with at least 10 made threes.  NIACC was coming off a win at Iowa Lakes on Monday night, a place where ECC suffered its only conference loss, but the Trojans were no match for the Panthers, who swept the season series from the visitors for the 1st time since the 2017-18 campaign.

All five starters reached double figures for ECC and 12 of the 14 players who suited up scored.  Leading the scoring parade was Chimobi Ikegwuruka with 20 points.  He added 8 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.  The guys who shared the DII basketball athlete of the week honors in the ICCAC this week, Arlandus Keyes and Cameron Liggins, had 16 and 15 points, respectively.  Keyes dished out 11 assists and nailed 4 3s.  Jordan Glenn-Hawkins had 16 points and Clinton Efinda 10.  Reserve Themba Tshuma had his best game of the season with 7 points and 8 rebounds.

The Panthers have 2 tough games looming, with a home game against Iowa Lakes on Jan. 31 following the trip to DMACC on Saturday.