Southwestern Community College men's basketball earned a hard-fought 82–80 road victory Saturday afternoon at North Iowa Area Community College, holding off a late push to secure its first ICCAC win of the season.
After trailing 39–34 at the break, the Spartans responded with a composed and efficient second half, outscoring NIACC 48–41 over the final 20 minutes. Southwestern shot 45.8 percent from the floor and knocked down 16 three-pointers, while also converting 12-of-14 attempts at the free-throw line in a tightly contested game.
Niko Wilson led all scorers with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting night, including five three-pointers. Wilson added six rebounds and provided a steady presence throughout the afternoon. Justine De La Cruz followed with 20 points, connecting on four shots from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Theo Alexandersson Ohnell orchestrated the offense, finishing with 11 points, nine assists, and four rebounds as the Spartans totaled 21 assists as a team. Michael Smith anchored the interior with eight points, nine rebounds, and multiple key defensive plays, helping Southwestern hold firm down the stretch.
The game featured 11 lead changes and was decided in the closing possessions, with Southwestern's ball movement and shot selection proving to be the difference. The Spartans committed just 15 turnovers while forcing 16 from NIACC, including a critical late-game stop that preserved the narrow margin.
Head Coach Darryl Fletcher emphasized the significance of the team's collective effort.
"So proud of the way we fought and toughed this win out," Fletcher said. "Having 21 assists shows that when we play together and trust each other we can beat anyone. We still have a long way to go, but we took a big step forward."
The win moves Southwestern to 1–7 in conference play and snaps into the win column after a challenging stretch. The Spartans return home Wednesday, Jan. 14, to host Western Iowa Tech in ICCAC action at the Southwestern Student Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.