-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Tray Croft of Iowa Central drives towards the basket against Iowa Lakes on Wednesday

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tray Croft wanted nothing more than another chance to prove himself.

The Iowa Central All-American candidate had a turnover late in the second half here Thursday night that allowed fifth-ranked Kirkwood to take a three-point lead.

And that’s exactly what he got.

With the clock winding down under five seconds, the sophomore took his defender off the dribble and pulled up from just inside 20 feet, sinking a jumper sending the Tritons to the Region XI championship with a 75-74 upset of the Eagles.

Kirkwood’s last-second desperation three-pointer by Bailey Kale hit off the back of the rim, setting off a celebration for the Iowa Central (21-11 overall) fans who made the journey for the second time this week.

“When I turned it over, I got down on myself and I felt like I had cost us the game,” Croft said. “But my team and the coaches told me to calm down and we were still in it so that’s what I did. When we got the ball back and in my hands, I knew they believed in me so I just got to my spot and all that was going through my head was all this hard work we had been putting in and we couldn’t go out so I pulled up and I knew it was going in.

“I just knew (Kale) couldn’t stay in front of me and that the defense wasn’t going to help if I got to the mid-range. That’s the best part of my game so I stopped and popped; that’s what Coach (Chad) Helle has been working on with us.”

A third consecutive road date awaits Iowa Central, as they will face defending national champion Southwestern on Saturday in Creston for a spot in the national tournament at 3 p.m. The Spartans knocked off No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes, 102-93.

Croft finished the game 13-for-26 from the field, including four 3-pointers. He also had nine rebounds and three assists. He now has 1,598 career points and 173 triples.

Collin Shannon scored 18 points, sinking four triples, and Royshawn Webb added 16 with three 3-pointers. The Tritons were 12 of 30 from the 3-point line, including eight in the first 20 minutes.

Iowa Central knocked off Ellsworth in Iowa Falls in the first round this past Tuesday night.

“We played two tough road games against two tough teams and we just executed on both ends of the floor,” said Webb, a freshman from Cedar Rapids. “I’m just happy for us and this team. We are going to do everything we can to keep ths is thing going.”

Shannon had a layup with 1:49 left that cut the deficit to one, 74-73. The freshman scored 10 in the second half.

Doug Wilson led Kirkwood with 25 points, as Carlo Marble added 18 and Ethan Meeker 11. The Eagles, who led by 10 at the break, swept the two regular season meetings between the teams, winning 84-62 and 85-79.

Wilson and Marble combined for 30 in the opening 20 minutes, but just 13 in the final 20.

Iowa Central split its two meetings with Southwestern (25-7) this year, besting the Spartans at Hodges Fieldhouse, 83-79, and falling in Creston, 89-84.

“This feels good and like we really have a chance to make it and get a ring,” Croft said. “Knowing this is my last year (at Iowa Central), I wanna go out with a bang.”

IOWA CENTRAL 75, KIRKWOOD 74

Iowa Central — Tray Croft 13-26 1-2 31, Royshawn Webb 6-10 1-2 16, Dallas Bailey 1-6 2-2 5, Collin Shannon 7-10 0-0 18, Thomas Akamarmoi 0-1 0-0 0, Kane Kramer 0-2 0-0 0, Kemryn Jenkins 0-1 2-2 2, Raphael Jegede 1-1 1-1 3. Totals: 28-57 7-9 75.

Kirkwood — Bailey Kale 2-3 0-0 4, Ethan Meeker 4-8 0-0 11, Chris King 2-12 1-2 5, Doug Wilson 11-13 3-4 25, Kyle Arrington 1-3 0-0 2, LJ Stansbury 3-5 3-5 9, Jay Small 0-1 0-0 0, Tajen Ross 0-1 0-0 0, Carlo Marble 7-9 0-0 18, Taejuan Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-55 7-11 74.

Halftime score: Kirkwood led 45-35. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 12- 30 (Croft 4-11, Webb 3-4, Bailey 1-4, Shannon 4-7, Akamarmoi 0-1, Kramer 0-2, Jenkins 0-1); Kirkwood 7-18 (Kale 0-1, Meeker 3-6, King 0-4, Stansbury 0-1, Small 0-1, Marble 4-5). Total rebounds: Iowa Central 22, Kirkwood 30. Assists: Iowa Central 9, Kirkwood 19. Steals: Iowa Central 6, Kirkwood 4. Turnovers: Iowa Central 10, Kirkwood 15.