NIACC's Devon'dre Mayfield (left) and Jacques Kelly celebrate NIACC's 70-69 win over Bryant & Stratton on Monday.
NIACC's Devon'dre Mayfield (left) and Jacques Kelly celebrate NIACC's 70-69 win over Bryant & Stratton on Monday.
November 1, 2021

NIACC knocks off No. 17 Bryant & Stratton, 70-69

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MASON CITY - The NIACC men's basketball team opened the season with a 70-69 victory over No. 17 (NJCAA Division II) Bryant & Stratton (Wis.) Monday night in the NIACC gym.

Freshman Jacques Kelly connected on two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to lift the Trojans to the 1-point victory. Bryant & Stratton's 3-point attempt from the deep left wing at the buzzer did not fall as the Trojans improved to 12-2 in their last 14 season openers.

The win by NIACC was its first over a rated team since the Trojans stopped No. 9 Kirkwood 76-74 on March 5, 2020 in the NJCAA Region XI tournament semifinals.

NIACC led 32-23 at the half. Bryant & Stratton outscored the Trojans 46-38 in the second 20 minutes, but came up a point short.

NIACC was led by guard Cortaviaus Seales with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. NIACC's Noah Rigatuso scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

NIACC's Bradley Andrews scored eight points with six rebounds and Jeffrey Skogen scored five points with eight rebounds and three assists.

Bryant & Stratton was led by Malik Tidwell with 23 points. Also reaching double figures for the Bobcats were Jeremiah Maldonado with 16 points and Quintin Winterfeldt with 15 points.

NIACC returns to action Friday and Saturday at home in the annual Konigsmark Klassic. The Trojans host Milwaukee Area Tech at 8 p.m. on Friday and Sisseton Wapheton College at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Notes: NIACC head coach Mark Mohl improved to 12-2 in season openers ... Monday's win was the 900th overall win for the NIACC men's basketball team, which has an overall record of 900-714.