Double Digit Delight - Morningside topples NWC

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Another Great Plains Athletic Conference rivalry test … another standout defensive effort for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 4-ranked squad.

Head coach Jim Sykes' Morningside College Mustangs, withstanding an early barrage of stellar long-range shooting from visiting Northwestern College, kept the Red Raiders more than 26 points below their season average Saturday, Nov. 17, much as they did in a crosstown showdown win over fellow top-10 ranked Briar Cliff University Nov. 14. The Maroon's 92-72 victory in front a large and loud crowd of appreciative home fans packed inside Allee Gymnasium at the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center was led by what's become a theme of balanced points' charts in which four individuals tallied double figures.

The potent guard combination of sophomore Zach Imig (SO/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) and junior Alex Borchers (JR/South Sioux City, NE ) (South Sioux City, Neb.) turned in a pair of 13-point efforts. Imig's point total wasn't the only part of his personal headlines, as he also dished off five assists, dished off three steals and also fought inside for six rebounds. Another perimeter standout, senior Brody Egger (SR/Urbandale, IA) of Urbandale, Iowa, added 11 points and made some program history in the process. He surpassed former standout Eddie Ceasar for the 11^thspot on the all-time scoring list (1,313 points) and moved within 36 points of the top 10. Mside's bench also figured into moving the 2018-19 campaign to a 4-0 overall and 3-0 conference record, as junior forward Ben Hoskins (JR/Wayne, NE ) (Wayne, Neb.) finished with 11 and also passed off three assists.

After Northwestern's 16-9 run to open the contest, the Mustangs scooted out to an 11-point lead on the heels of scoring 26 of the next 34 points. From that point on, the lead continued to build into the 20s before winding up at its final 21-point difference. The use of the three-point basket and a sizzling overall shooting display sparked the Maroon's victory, as they hit 14 treys and ended the night converting at a robust 53.2 percent clip from the field.

Morningside continues conference play Tuesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off versus Doane College is 8 p.m. at Allee Gymnasium in the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center.