BOONE, IOWA -- The Ellsworth CC men's basketball team relinquished its hold on 1st place in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference standings when the Panthers were defeated by DMACC, 81-70, Saturday.  With the victory, the Bears take over the top spot in the league with a 10-1 record, a game ahead of ECC, who is 9-2.  DMACC's lone conference loss came at the hands of Ellsworth earlier in the month.

The hosts held the high-scoring Panthers to just 24 points in the opening 20 minutes and never let them make a run in the 2nd half, limiting ECC to 40 percent shooting.  Ellsworth attempted only 10 free throws, half the total of DMACC, who connected on 19-of-20 at the stripe.  

Arlandus Keyes hit 5 of his team's 6 3-pointers and led Ellsworth with 23 points.  The rest of the Panthers were 1-of-12 from behind the arc.

Jordan Glenn-Hawkins had 15 points and Chimobi Ikegwuruka 10 and a team-best 8 boards.  DMACC won the rebound battle, 45-30.  ECC recorded a season-high 17 steals, led by Jaron Crews and Glenn-Hawkins with 4 apiece.

Ellsworth, 17-4 overall, gets a chance to avenge a loss at Iowa Lakes when they entertain the Lakers at Dittmer Gym on Wednesday night.