IOWA FALLS – The NIACC men’s basketball team begin NJCAA Region XI tournament at Ellsworth at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
NIACC (17-14 overall, 5-7 in the ICCAC) enters the tournament as the fifth seed. Ellsworth (15-16, 5-7) is the tournament’s fourth seed.
The winner of Tuesday’s game plays at top-seed DMACC at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. DMACC was the league’s regular season champion and earned a first-round bye in the seven-team league.
NIACC and Ellsworth split their two regular season contests. Ellsworth won 77-56 in Mason City on Jan. 24 and NIACC won 76-74 at Iowa Falls on Feb. 21.
This is the first time since the 2008-09 season that NIACC and Ellsworth have met in the NJCAA Regional tourrnament. Ellsworth won the 2008-09 matchup 87-77 in Mark Mohl’s first year as coach of the Trojans.
NJCAA Region XI tournament pairings
Tuesday, March 3
(All games start at 7:30 p.m.)
(1) DMACC (24-5, 10-2) received a first-round bye.
(5) NIACC (17-14, 5-7) at (4) Ellsworth (15-16, 5-7)
(6) Iowa Central (16-14, 4-8) at (3) Southwestern (22-9, 6-6)
(7) Iowa Lakes (16-14, 3-9) at (2) Kirkwood (23-6, 9-3)
Thursday, March 5
(All games start at 7:30 p.m.)
NIACC/Ellsworth winner at DMACC
Iowa Central/Southwestern winner vs. Iowa Lakes/Kirkwood winner
Note – Thursday’s games will be played at the highest remaining seed.
Saturday, March 7
Championship game (3 p.m.) at highest remaining seed.