The Marshalltown Community College men's basketball took to the hardwood Friday night when they made the four and half hour trip to Norfolk, Nebraska to take on ICCAC rival Northeast Community College. The Tigers entered the game 2-5 in the conference and in sole position of 4th place. The Hawks have not won an ICCAC game this season and that mark would extend to eight as the Tigers defeated the Hawks 73-66.
The Tigers took the lead early and never relinquished it. Mohamed Thiam yet again dominated the game, finishing with 30 points going 12-22 from the field and 5-10 from the three-point arc. Thiam recorded his 14th double double of the season after bringing in 14 rebounds. Oscar Kao finished the night with 10 points, shooting 36% from the field and 2-5 from the three-point arc. The Tigers were as efficient as they have been all season, shooting 49% from the field as a team and 47.8% from three.
The Hawks faught back throughout the second half, in part due to Jaquan Sanders's 31 points. Sanders controlled the offense for the Hawks all game long going 9-13 from the field and 11-12 from the free throw line. Allen Anderson finished with 15 points while bringing down six rebounds and recording two assists.
The Tigers will be back on the hardwood Monday, February 16 in the Student Activity Center for the first round of the Region XI Tournament. The first round will see a rematch of Friday's game as this time the Hawks will make the drive to Marshalltown. The last time the Tigers hosted the Hawks in the Student Activity Center they walked out with a 69-49 victory. The winner of Monday's game will advance to Wednesday, when they travel to Ottumwa, Iowa to take on the #1 Warriors of Indian Hills Community College.