Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Iowa Central's Aleix Sempere dunks on Wednesday night inside Hodges Fieldhouse. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The ICCAC is always a grind, and this season is anticipated to be no different in men’s basketball.

Four teams currently sit inside the Top-10 in the latest NJCAA Div. II rankings from the league, led by No. 1 Ellsworth. The Panthers moved there after knocking off fellow conference member Kirkwood — the defending national champions.

With home and away matchups still on tap with the Panthers, fifth-ranked Eagles, No. 9 Des Moines Area and 24th-rated Iowa Western, each and every game on the schedule is equally important for No. 4 Iowa Central.

The Tritons (10-0 overall, 2-0 in the league) took care of business here Wednesday night, rolling past Western Iowa Tech inside Hodges Fieldhouse, 99-80.

CJ Mitchell led five players in double figures with 21 points for Iowa Central. Aleix Sempere added a double-double, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds.

Manny Lueth added a career-high 19 points, Dorian Pruitt had 15 off the bench on five made 3-pointers, and Jalen Wynter scored 11. Carter Loney grabbed 13 rebounds with nine points and four blocks in 23 minutes.

As a squad, the Tritons hit 16 of 32 from deep and shot over 59 percent for the game.

“I thought we played well as a team,” ICCC head coach Mason Denholm said. “The ball moved and guys shared it to find the open man. That has been our recipe for success this season offensively.

“Being down two starters, everyone stepped up and did more for us.”

Lueth scored 14 of his 19 in the first half as Iowa Central raced out to a 54-35 lead. Sempere had 12 and eight in the opening 20 minutes, while Pruitt sank four triples. The Tritons made nine shots from the 3-point line in the half.

“I thought CJ really controlled the game with six assists from the point spot,” Denholm said. “Both Aleix and Carter finishing with double figure rebounds was big for us. Dorian, Manny, Jalen and CJ…when those four are making shots at an elite level, that makes us tough to guard and that’s what they do.

“We stayed the course on defense and really settled in late in the first half. I’m proud of the overall effort of our group.”

Mitchell, one of five sophomores, has reached double figures in all 10 games this year. Sempere, another sophomore, has logged five double-doubles and scored in double figures six times.

Wynter, also a second-year ICCC player, has made at least two 3-pointers in seven straight and nine of 10 this season.

Zeb Svoboda led Western Iowa Tech with 21 points and Caleb Kawela had 18.

Iowa Central hits the road this Saturday to take on Iowa Lakes in Estherville before returning home for a showdown with Kirkwood next Wednesday. The Tritons conclude the month at Southwestern before hosting Central.

IOWA CENTRAL 99, WESTERN IOWA TECH 80

Iowa Central — Manny Lueth 7-10 0-0 19, CJ Mitchell 9-14 0-0 21, Jalen Wynter 4-11 1-1 11, Aleix Sempere 8-9 2-5 18, Carter Loney 3-4 2-2 9, Dorian Pruitt 5-10 0-0 15, Jaxson Cathcart 0-1 1-2 1, Simon Gurial 0-0 0-0 0, Victor Hatungimana 0-1 0-0 0, Jon Roberts 1-2 0-0 2, Jean Lucas Beleoken 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 38-64 7-12 99.

Western Iowa Tech — Rashard White 5-9 0-0 11, Isaiah Lloyd 4-5 0-0 9, Javier Sideregts 2-5 0-0 4, Caleb Swaela 6-11 6-9 18, Zeb Svoboda 6-14 4-4 21, Terance Pittman 3-5 0-0 6, Ronald Lee 0-5 0-0 0, Iven Karla 2-3 1-2 5, Easton Bosanek 2-6 0-0 6, Kabwe Bonfis 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 30-65 11-15 80.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 54-35. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 16-32 (Lueth 5-8, Mitchell 3-4, Wynter 2-8, Loney 1-1, Pruitt 5-10, Hatungimana 0-1), Western Iowa Tech 9-29. Total rebounds: Iowa Central 35, Western Iowa Tech 23. Assists: Iowa Central 14, Western Iowa Tech 14. Steals: Iowa Central 4, Western Iowa Tech 8. Blocked shots: Iowa Central 4, Western Iowa Tech 2. Turnovers: Iowa Central 15, Western Iowa Tech 8. Team fouls: Iowa Central 12, Western Iowa Tech 16.