ESTHERVILLE – Kyle Beisch connected on a 3-point goal at the buzzer to lift Iowa Lakes to an 81-80 victory over NIACC in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament Wednesday night.
NIACC’s Rodrick Fuller missed two free throws with five seconds remaining with the Trojans leading 80-78.
The Lakers quickly moved the ball into the front court and Beisch hit his game-winning 3-point goal from the left wing. Before the game-winner, Beisch was 1 of 11 from the field.
Sophomore Nick Wurm led NIACC (14-16) with 27 points before fouling out in the final minute. Freshman Orrington Hamilton scored 20 points.
Nick Wagner led the Lakers (23-8) with 19 points.
Second-seed Iowa Lakes hosts third-seed Southwestern on Thursday in the regional semifinals.
NJCAA Region XI tournament results
Tuesday’s results
Kirkwood 98, Little Priest Tribal College 78
Iowa Central 72, Ellsworth 67
Southwestern 92, DMACC 51
Iowa Lakes 81, NIACC 80
Thursday’s games
7 p.m. – (5) Iowa Central (20-11) at (1) Kirkwood (24-5)
7 p.m. – (3) Southwestern (24-7) at (2) Iowa Lakes (23-8)
Note: Championship game is at highest remaining seed at 3 p.m. The game will be at 7 p.m. if title game is at Kirkwood.