No.16 KCC men fall to 5-5

NORFOLK, Neb. - The Kirkwood men's basketball team played shorthanded without three of its top players Saturday and fell short in Nebraska. 

The 16th-ranked Eagles lost to Northeast Community, 83-74, and saw their record drop to 5-5 for the campaign.

Corvon Seales, Cortaviaus Seales and Blessin Kimble did not play for Kirkwood, leaving Coach Tim Sandquist with a shortened bench and fewer options than normal.

Noah King and Blake Brinkmeyer led Kirkwood with 19 points apiece. King popped in four 3-pointers and Brinkmeyer grabbed eight rebounds. Chris Burnell scored 16 points for the Eagles.

Michael Anderson poured in 32 points for Northeast (2-8). Ben Tew scored 19 points and Jared Lopez tacked on 18.

KIRKWOOD (74): Noah King 5 5-8 19, Chris Burnell 6 3-4 16, Joich Gong 1 3-4 5, Caleb Delzell 1 4-4 6, Blake Brinkmeyer 7 5-5 19, Dante Eldridge 0 0-0 0, Jaleque Dunson 4 1-1 9, Jaden Keller 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 21-26 74.

NORTHEAST (83): Michael Anderson 11 7-10 32, Justin Hiser 2 2-2 7, Evan Decker 1 1-2 4, Jared Lopez 6 3-3 18, Ben Tew 6 7-10 19, Devin Ross 1 1-2 3, Grant Stec 0 0-0 0, Akol Ring 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 21-29 83.

Halftime - Kirkwood 30, Northeast 28. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 5 (King 4, Burnell 1), Northeast 8 (Anderson 3, Lopez 3, Hiser 1, Decker 1).