COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - In a battle between unbeaten teams both receiving votes in the NJCAA Division 2 weekly poll, a 40-minute battle came down to a last-second shot on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Highland (6-1) came up on the short end of that shot, falling to Iowa Western (8-0) 67-66.
The Reivers had the better of most of the first half, leading by as much as 19-9 at the 10:09 mark. Highland was briefly able to close the gap to one possession as
Tavian Tate completed a three-point play with 5:26 on the clock to pull the Scotties within a 27-24 deficit.
Iowa Western was able to stretch back to a 35-27 lead at the break and held on to a two-possession lead for the opening five minutes of the second half.
A fast-break bucket closed Highland within three with 14:46 left in the contest, as Tate found a streaking
Miguel Villegas on the right side of the court, with Villegas making a great bounce pass to
Adriel Smith for an easy layup to give the Scotties a 42-39 deficit.
Tate put the Scotties in front moments later, knocking down a pull-up jumper from the right elbow for a 47-45 lead with 12:05 to go.
Following a back-and-forth battle over the next nine minutes, Highland looked as if it was going to find a 67-65 lead with 3:20 to play, as
Jaden Williams drew contact while driving for a layup and Iowa Western's Jordan Dewaele was whistled for a blocking foul.
Unfortunately, the contact was ruled to have taken place before Williams began his shooting motion, sending him to the line to shoot a 1-and-1 in the bonus instead of an opportunity for a three-point play.
The first effort was true, but the second hit hard off the back iron and the Reivers were able to convert on their next possession for a 67-65 lead with 2:47 left.
Shooting troubles then hit both teams, with Iowa Western unable to lock in the victory after a three-point miss by Zayden West and Highland unable to take the lead on a Knoll three-pointer on the following possession. Following the miss by Knoll and a blocked putback attempt by
Takeo Moore, the Scotties found a bit of good fortune after an official review showed that Best had grabbed Moore's foot during the putback attempt after the pair had collided in the lane.
Moore knocked down the second of the two technical free throws to pull Highland within one, but Iowa Western was able to knock the ball loose on the inbound and find just enough possession during the scramble to call a timeout.
Highland picked up the defensive stop they needed, forcing Best into an off-balance shot from 30 feet out, but the Reivers answered with a stop of their own, as Knoll had to stop short on his drive, drawing only rim with seven tenths on the clock.
Tate led the Scotties with 25 points on the night, with Knoll picking up a double-double (14 pts, 11 reb) and Smith adding 10 points.The Reivers finished with four players in double figures, led by Judah Vignery's 16.
The Scotties take on Central Community College in the second game of this road swing, tipping off against the Raiders at 6 p.m. Friday.
