The Southwestern Spartans men's basketball team delivered a gritty performance but fell short against the #2-ranked Kirkwood Community College Eagles, 60-54, on Saturday afternoon in Creston. The loss moves the Spartans to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in ICCAC play.

Southwestern kept pace with the highly ranked Eagles throughout the game, trailing by just four points at halftime, 30-26. Despite a strong second-half effort, the Spartans couldn't overcome missed opportunities at the free-throw line and struggled to convert down the stretch.

Key Performers:

• Don Fontenot led the Spartans' offense with 21 points, including four three-pointers, while adding three rebounds.
• Thomas Morgan provided a solid contribution off the bench, finishing with 10 points and four rebounds.
• The Spartans shot 38.8% from the field and an impressive 40.9% from beyond the arc but were hindered by a 58.3% clip at the free-throw line.

Head Coach Darryl Fletcher remained optimistic despite the outcome:
"We brought the fight to Kirkwood, and I'm very proud of my guys for that. We did miss some layups and free throws that I wish we could have back. Overall, if this group continues to grind and work, we have a chance every game."

The Spartans return to action on Thursday when they face Dakota County Technical College in non-conference play. They'll resume ICCAC competition on Saturday with a road game against Iowa Central. Fans can stream all conference games live at ICCAC Sports Network.

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