On Nov. 2, Kirkwood Community College men’s basketball team hosted Wilbur Wright College and defeated the Rams 107-41.
Coming into this game there were many question marks next to this Eagles team. Only two of their top seven scorers from last season returned. While a handful of transfers and freshmen make their way to this team.
A lot of those question marks were alleviated after the very first play of the game.
Sophomore forward Manasse Kasongo won the opening tipoff for the Eagles. Freshman guard Zach Driscoll took possession of the ball, then threw a lob up to transfer sophomore forward Jang Ruei for an emphatic dunk.
Right there you could tell that it was a new era of Kirkwood men’s basketball.
“That was a set play,” said head coach Tim Sandquist. “We tried that at shoot around and they executed pretty well.”
Shortly after Kasongo had a highlight dunk for himself.
Kirkwood was in full control of the tempo of the game. In the first half they took a commanding 49-12 against the Rams.
Leading the pack in scoring for the first half was returning sophomore guard Jackson Lieurance, totalling 13 points. In that first half he set a new career-high in points. Breaking his nine point affair from last season.
Lieurance credits his improvement from last season to Kirkwood assistant coach Tyler Bullock. “I was injured coming into the season last year, they didn’t quit on me,” he said. “I was coming into the season and worked out with coach (Bullock) a ton this offseason.”
The guard finished the night with 19 points, shattering his previous career high.
Four other players scored in double-figures. Sophomore guard Damyen Jackson, sophomore forward Josh Mbick, sophomore forward Grayson Wollum as well as Kasongo.
Though, for Jackson this is no rare feat. The sophomore transferred to Kirkwood from Loras College, where he earned All-Conference honorable mention his freshman year there.
“Shout out to my coaches for putting me in the position to do what I did today,” Jackson said. “Shout out to my teammates for sharing the rock and being unselfish and putting me in a position to do what I did today. It felt good.”
He finished the night with 13 points while going 6-9 from the field. While also going 4-5 from long range.
In the second half the Eagles outscored the Rams 58-29. Completing the 100 point threshold on the day.
Despite the blowout, Sandquist was not satisfied with the free throw numbers and turnovers. “We got to clean up going into this weekend,” Sanquist said.
And his advice to the team?
“Focus and deep breaths. Don’t make it bigger than what it is.”
Kirkwood will travel to Quincy, IL this Friday to take on North Arkansas College.
Categories: Men's Basketball, Sports
