Triton Men's Basketball helps Iowa win challenge

The Triton College men's basketball team did their part to help the state of Iowa Nov. 12 and 13 going 1-1 at the Iowa-Missouri Challenge played at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa.

The Trojans despite the geography were asked to fill the empty slot of the challenge as Iowa Western Community College who was in the inaugural event in 2019 dropped down to NJCAA Division II status beginning this season.

Triton's 73-67 victory Nov. 13 over Missouri State-West Plains was the difference in Iowa winning the challenge over Missouri 5-3.

West Virginia University signee Patrick Suemnick paced the Trojans attack with 18 points and nine rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting from the field.

Cam Denson had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Purdue-Fort Wayne signee Deangelo Elisee finished with 12 points. True freshman Kimahri Wilson dished out 10 assists as Triton (3-1) was able to hold off West Plains in the second half after a building a 42-30 halftime lead.

However, the Trojans could not protect their double-digit halftime lead the first day of the challenge vs. Three Rivers Community College. Triton enjoyed a 40-29 cushion at the break and led all the way until the Raiders hit a three to go up 67-65 with just under two minutes remaining.

IUPUI signee Daylan Hamilton was hard for Three Rivers to stop, as he scored 20 points on seven-of-eight shooting from the field. His only miss was the potential game tying three in the closing seconds.

Denson had 14 points and seven rebounds. Elisee added 10 points for the Trojans.

"Our program was fortunate to be invited to play in the Iowa-Missouri Challenge," said Triton head coach John Clancy. "We came out against a very talented Three Rivers team and were able to build an 11-point halftime lead. Unfortunately, rebounding and turnovers plagued us in the second half and we came up just short. Then we had a short turnaround against a quality Missouri State-West Plains program who was coming off an extremely tough loss to national powerhouse Indian Hills the night before in a one possession game."

"We showed great growth from the Three Rivers game to the West Plains game," Clancy said. "We are far from a finished product but I think we are figuring some things out as a staff and a team of who needs to play and how we need to play in order beat good opponents moving forward."

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