Photo by Iowa Central Athletics: Jordan Cain and the Iowa Central men’s basketball squad advanced at the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament on Monday.

DANVILLE, Ill. — For the first time in nearly 60 years, the Iowa Central men’s basketball squad has scored a victory at the NJCAA National Tournament.

The 11th-ranked Tritons received a double-double from Aleix Sempere and used a big first half to top No. 13 Schoolcraft here in the second round at the Mary Miller Center, 69-50, Monday night.

Iowa Central (27-6 overall) will now take on either No. 4 Pima or 21st-ranked Davidson-Davie back here on Thursday in the NJCAA Div. II quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Those two square off on Tuesday morning after Davidson-Davie advanced with a 96-71 victory over Fort Scott.

“It was good to get that kind of start, especially defensively,” first-year ICCC head coach Mason Denholm said. “We did a good job guarding as five guys together.

“We hit a little adversity there when they went to a zone and went on a bit of a run, but I’m proud of our group for responding.”

This marks the first opening-round tournament win at nationals in program history. Iowa Central reached the national field for the first time at the end of the 1967-68 season, when the Tritons posted a 28-6 overall record. After falling in the opener, 89-73 to San Jacinto, ICCC rebounded to defeat Broome Tech, Robert Morris and Boise to place fifth.

The program qualified in 1989 and 2012 under Hall of Fame head coach Dennis Pilcher, but went 0-2 both years.

Sempere had his double-double at the break, scoring 13 points on 6 of 6 shooting with 10 rebounds. The sophomore finished with 22 points on 9 of 9 shooting from the field and 15 rebounds — eight on the offensive end.

Jalen Wynter had 16 points, hitting five 3-pointers — including three in the first 20 minutes. CJ Mitchell and Jordan Cain each added nine points.

Tashun Pender contributed seven points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Mitchell and Cain each had four assists.

Iowa Central was plus-nine on the glass and held a plus-10 advantage on points in the paint.

The Triton lead was as many as 19 in the first half and hit 22 in the second before Schoolcraft got it down to six with just over nine minutes to play. From there, the Tritons regained control behind Sempere and company.

For Schoolcraft, Rael Cochrane had 17 points and 11 rebounds. both J’Vohn Walker and Jeremiah Caffey added 12 points and six rebounds apiece.

IOWA CENTRAL 69, SCHOOLCRAFT 50

Iowa Central – Tashun Pender 3-5 1-2 7, CJ Mitchell 2-8 5-8 9, Jalen Wynter 5-12 1-2 16, Aleix Sempere 9-9 4-8 22, Jordan Cain 3-9 2-4 9, Manny Lueth 1-7 0-0 3, Dorian Pruitt 1-5 0-0 3, Jon Roberts 0-1 0-0 0, Carter Loney 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 13-24 69.

Schoolcraft – J’Vohn Walker 3-14 4-7 12, Booker Washington 1-6 1-2 3, Amir Perryman 0-7 0-0 0, Rael Cochran 7-17 1-2 17, Tyler Robinson 1-6 0-0 2, Martel Stampley 0-2 4-6 4, Holdyn Brigham 0-1 0-0 0, Brandon Ingram, Jr., 0-2 0-0 0, Cameron Strother 0-1 0-0 0, Jeremiah Caffey 5-8 0-1 12, Triston Pierce 0-1 0-0 0, Abraham Rooks 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-66 10-18 50.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 37-22. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 8-30 (Pender 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, Wynter 5-12, Cain 1-4, Lueth 1-7, Pruitt 1-5), Schoolcraft 6-28 (Walker 2-8, Washington 0-3, Perryman 0-4, Cochrane 2-5, Robinson 0-1, Brigham 0-1, Ingram 0-2, Caffey 2-4). Total rebounds: Iowa Central 50, Schoolcraft 41. Assists: Iowa Central 13, Schoolcraft 6. Turnovers: Iowa Central 14, Schoolcraft 11. Team fouls: Iowa Central 15, Schoolcraft 17.