The MCC men's basketball team played their fifth conference game Wednesday night as they took on the Reivers of Iowa Western Community College in the Student Activity Center. The Tigers were coming off their first conference win of the season after defeating Northeast Community College 69-49 at home Saturday, January 27. The Reivers of Iowa Western were 19-4 on the season after rattling off ten straight wins in November and December. The talented Reivers team that averages 95 points a game were previously ranked before falling to State Fair Community College and Indian Hills Community College.

After being down early in the first half, the Tigers rallied to take a six-point lead into half. The Tigers ran off with the victory in the second half defeating the Reivers 77-59.The Tigers shot well all night, converting on 68% of their shots collectively. Oscar Kao was a force for the Tigers, going 11-15 from the field, 5-7 from the three-point arc, and 2-3 from the free throw line for 29 points. Mohamed Thiam added 16 points while going 7-10 from the field. Iowa Western had three players in double digits with Isaiah Wade recording a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Decardo Day added 14 points while Patrick Dembley finished with 10.

"I was proud of our guys for fighting their way back tonight," stated Head Coach Brynjar Brynjarsson. "The team responded to changes at half and we executed well the entire second half. These conference games are always battles down the stretch so hopefully we can keep this momentum going."

The Tigers will be back in action Saturday, February 3 when they travel to Burlington, Iowa and take on the Blackhawks of Southeastern Community College. The Tigers will again look to avenge a previous loss after the Blackhawks came to Marshalltown and defeated the Tigers in a hard fought 71-66 battle back on January 17.