Photo by Iowa Central Athletics: Iowa Central's Aleix Sempere drives and scores on Saturday against NIACC inside Hodges Fieldhouse during a Region 11-B semifinal.

The 11th-ranked (NJCAA Div. II) Iowa Central men’s basketball team came to play here on Saturday.

The Tritons (24-6 overall) were impressive in all facets of the game as they dismantled NIACC, 101-61, in a Region 11-B semifinal contest inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Tashun Pender led four Iowa Central players in double figures with 22 points in the rout, with Jordan Cain (16), CJ Mitchell (15) and Dorian Pruitt (14) next in line. No Triton saw the court for more than 25 minutes.

“Our guys really defended and got after it with a great sense of urgency and pride,” ICCC head coach Mason Denholm said. “We knew NIACC had a lot of offensive talent, and we had to bring a lot of intensity to the table in order to get the win.

“I’m proud of our group for putting 40 full minutes together.”

This victory was far from guaranteed beforehand, given the Tritons were defeated by the Trojans (16-15) in overtime here last month, 104-99. Iowa Central did exact revenge just three days ago in the regular-season finale at NIACC, 81-74.

The postseason opener was all Tritons, though. Iowa Central led 58-31 at halftime, made 56 percent of its shots from the field, knocked down 11 three-point baskets, and out-reboudned NIACC, 53-30.

Jacob Martin, who had been averaging 15.7 points for the Trojans during the regular season, was held to 11. TJ Cusciotta (13.4-point average) had only 11 as well.

NIACC was just 23 of 69 from the field (33 percent) and 8-for-35 (23 percent) from behind the arc.

This marks the seventh time the Tritons have reached the century mark in 2025-26. Iowa Central has also scored 90 or more points on 19 different occasions.

The Tritons now square off with No. 9 Ellsworth (25-6) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside Hodges Fieldhouse for the Region 11-B title. The Panthers survived a scare on Saturday, escaping Northeast, 83-82.

Iowa Central is the No. 2 seed, so it is able to host third-seeded Ellsworth. The winner will either advance to nationals or play in a North Central District championship, depending on the results between No. 1 seed DMACC and fifth-seeded Iowa Western in the Region 11-A finals.

“We’re excited to be back home on Tuesday, as we get that opportunity (based on) the work of the regular season,” Denholm said. “Ellsworth is super talented and tough. To beat the No. 9 team in the country is going to take a total team effort, and it will be extremely difficult.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete in front of our home crowd on Tuesday.”

IOWA CENTRAL 101, NIACC 61

Iowa Central — Tashun Pender 10-15 2-2 22, Jordan Cain 6-10 2-2 16, CJ Mitchell 7-11 0-2 15, Jalen Wynter 3-6 0-0 9, Aleix Sempere 4-10 0-2 8, Dorian Pruitt 5-8 0-1 14, Carter Loney 3-4 0-0 6, Jon Roberts 2-3 2-4 6, Victor Hatungimana 1-1 0-0 3, Jaxson Cathcart 1-3 0-0 2, Manny Lueth 0-2 0-0 0, Simon Gurial 0-1 0-0 0, Jean Lucas Beleoken 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 42-75 6-13 101.

NIACC — Jacob Martin 4-11 2-2 11, TJ Cusciotta 4-7 1-1 11, Joseph Fitch 2-6 2-2 6, Cameron Reigard 2-9 0-0 5, Lance Helming 0-2 0-0 0, Bryson Robinson 2-7 2-2 8, Eli Menke 2-4 0-0 6, Ty Franklin 1-4 0-0 2, Cayde Eberling 1-4 0-0 2, Vince Lancaster 1-2 0-0 2, Jordan Terhune 1-1 0-0 2, Kam’ron Solomon 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 23-69 7-7 61.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 58-31. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 11-25 (Pruitt 4-5, Wynter 3-6, Cain 2-4, Mitchell 1-3, Hatungimana 1-1, Lueth 0-2, Roberts 0-1, Beleoken 0-1, Sempere 0-1); NIACC 8-35 (Cusciotta 2-3, Menke 2-4, Robinson 2-6, Reigard 1-6, Martin 1-5, Solomon 0-3, Franklin 0-3, Eberling 0-2, Helming 0-2, Fitch 0-1). Rebounds: Iowa Central 53, NIACC 30. Assists: Iowa Central 18, NIACC 12. Turnovers: Iowa Central 4, NIACC 8. Total fouls: Iowa Central 12, NIACC 13.