Southwestern Community College men's basketball continued its strong January momentum Wednesday night, earning a 78–69 ICCAC victory over Western Iowa Tech at the Southwestern Student Center.

The win marks Southwestern's fourth victory in its last five games and improves the Spartans to 2–1 in conference play since the turn of the calendar, highlighting a team finding its rhythm on both ends of the floor.

Southwestern controlled the game early, taking a 35–31 lead into halftime, and maintained its composure in the second half behind disciplined defense and consistent rebounding. The Spartans shot 48.4 percent from the field and held Western Iowa Tech to 31.6 percent shooting from three-point range.

Justine De La Cruz delivered a standout performance, posting a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds while battling relentlessly around the rim. De La Cruz finished 9-of-17 from the field and was perfect at the free-throw line, setting the tone physically and emotionally for the Spartans.

Niko Wilson added 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists, continuing his steady all-around play during Southwestern's recent stretch of success. Alec Belter chipped in 13 points and four rebounds, while Michael Smith contributed nine points and four boards to help anchor the interior.

Southwestern's team defense proved pivotal, limiting second-chance opportunities and forcing timely stops as Western Iowa Tech attempted to close the gap late.

Head Coach Darryl Fletcher praised the effort and growth of his group following the win.

"We took a big step today and battled with WIT around the rim," Fletcher said. "Very proud of the team defense and rebounding today. Justine was big on both sides of the ball and left everything he had on the court. We still have some things to work on, but to get a win can't ever be too bad. Thanks to the crowd that came out and made it a great environment."

The Spartans now sit at 6–12 overall and continue a homestand Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host Iowa Lakes Community College at 3 p.m. inside the Southwestern Student Center.