NJCAA Game 6: Milwaukee Area Technical College 90, Iowa Lakes Community College 73

Mar. 18—DANVILLE — Every team entering the Mary Miller Center this week is hoping it can be the next Milwaukee Area Technical College.

A year ago, the Stormers claimed their first-ever NJCAA Division II National Championship and the Stormers are back to defend.

And defense was the key for Milwaukee Area Tech in a 90-73 triumph over Iowa Lakes in a second-round contest Monday night.

"It was all about our defense," said Milwaukee Area Tech coach Randy Casey. "We talked all week about what we needed to do against Iowa Lakes and we just simply didn't do it to start the game."

The Lakers (26-8) ran out to a 13-point lead in the game's first eight minutes but the Stormers (29-5) came back to pull within 41-40 at halftime. That was just the start for Milwaukee Area Tech, who went on a big second-half run to take a double-digit lead into the last 10 minutes of the game.

In addition to the defense, the Stormers also turned around the rebounding margin. Iowa Lakes enjoyed a 24-18 advantage in the first half, but Milwaukee Area Tech had 30 second-half boards on its way to 48-40 lead in the final numbers.

Sophomores Shamann Artis and Shelton Williams-Dryden were the leaders for the Stormers as they combined for 31 points and 21 rebounds in the game. That duo had 19 points and 14 rebounds just in the second half.

Qi'Andre Washington was the leading score for Milwaukee Area Tech with 17, followed by Williams-Dryden (16), Artis (15), Brionne Williams with 14 off the bench and Ke'Varius Taylor had 13.

Sophomore Jaedan Jefferson was the leading scorer for Iowa Lakes with 21, while Sam West and Kai Evans each had 12 and Blake Kooiman finished with 10.

With the win, Milwaukee Area Technical College advances into the quarterfinals to play either the third-seeded Ellsworth Community College or 14th-seeded Monroe Community College on Wednesday. Ellsworth and Monroe will play their second-round game on Tuesday.

Milwaukee Area Technical College 90, Iowa Lakes Community College 73

Iowa Lakes (73) — Bernard Omooria 2-3 0-0 6, Sam West 6-19 0-1 12, Jaedan Jefferson 8-18 4-4 21, Blake Kooiman 5-10 0-0 10, Ashton Hermann 1-4 1-3 3, Malik Grandberry 0-3 1-3 1, Anthony Boyd 2-3 0-0 4, Kai Evans 6-12 0-1 12, Jhodan Ryan 1-4 2-4 4. Totals: 31-76 8-16 73.

Milwaukee Area (90) — Ke'Varius Taylor 4-10 2-2 13, Shelton Williams-Dryden 7-11 2-5 16, Shamann Artis 6-15 0-0 15, Qi'Andre Washington 7-12 3-5 17, Antonio Foxwell 2-6 1-2 5, Maurice Clay 0-1 0-0 0, Cyrus Little 6-6 2-2 14, Brionne Williams 3-7 1-4 8, Jayquan Hickles 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 36-70 11-20 90.

Iowa Lakes '41 '32 '— '73

Milwaukee Area '40 '50 '— '90

3-pointers — Iowa Lakes 3-21 (Omooria 2-3, Jefferson 1-5, West 0-8, Kooiman 0-2, Hermann 0-2, Grandberry 0-1). Milwaukee Area 7-21 (Taylor 3-7, Artis 3-9, Williams 1-3, Foxwell 0-2). Rebounds — Iowa Lakes 40 (West 9). Milwaukee Area 48 (Artis 11, Williams-Dryden 10). Assists — Iowa Lakes 8 (West 3). Milwaukee Area 9 (Washington 4). Turnovers — Iowa Lakes 13, Milwaukee Area 14. Total fouls — Iowa Lakes 16, Milwaukee Area 18. Fouled out — Williams-Dryden.

Records — Iowa Lakes Community College 26-8 overall. Milwaukee Area Technical College 29-5 overall.