Comets start strong, fade late against No. 9 Ellsworth

The Western Iowa Tech men's basketball team again showed the ability to compete with the best of the ICCAC -- and thus, the nation -- Saturday afternoon in the Robert E. Dunker Center.

The Comets (3-6 overall, 0-3 ICCAC) lost 93-76 to the Ellsworth Panthers, who sit second in the conference and are ranked ninth in NJCAA Division II. The loss is WIT's third in a row, all coming against nationally ranked ICCAC opponents.

Throughout the three-game gauntlet, WIT has held its own for long stretches of gametime. Such was the case again Saturday when the Comets narrowly trailed the Panthers 44-40 at halftime.

But the Panthers (10-2, 2-0) would outscore WIT 14-6 in the opening 5:30 of the second half to earn their first double-digit lead of the game, a cushion they would retain for the remainder of the contest.

Three Comets scored in double digits. Silas Coleman led the team with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting ( 5 of 6 from the foul line), Latrel Davis had 12 and Jailyn Spears had 10. 

The Comets shot 50.8% from the field (31-for-61), their best shooting performance thus far in conference play.

The Panthers shot just 44.3% (27-for-61) from the field, but more than made up for it with a 35-for-41 day from the foul line. WIT attempted just 22 free throws and made just 11.

Though the Comets never led in the game, they cut the deficit to one point multiple times.

Perhaps WIT's best chance to get even with Ellsworth was on Juvares Safford's and-one opportunity with 1:16 left in the half. Safford came down with Spears llayup attempt on the left side of the basket, pumped once and then jumped to his right to bank in the putback while drawing the foul. Safford missed the free throw, however, leaving the Comets trailing by one, 41-40. 

Moments earlier, Spears finished his drive on the right side of the basket to cut the lead to 39-38.

Bie Ruei hit a 3-pointer from above the break with 7:09 left in the first half to make it 29-28, Ellsworth. Zeb Svoboda made a right-corner three to make it 24-23 with 9:35 to go.

Ahmad Ingram finished with nine points and four assists. Ashton Pennamon scored four points and had a game-high four steals. Keavian Hayes had a team-best four rebounds. 

Spears added three rebounds and three assists. 

The Comets host Briar Cliff JV at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Dunker Center. Fans are encouraged to wear ugly sweaters to the game.