The Southwestern Spartans men's basketball team delivered a strong performance Tuesday night, defeating Neosho County Community College 64-51. The win propels the Spartans to a 3-4 record as they prepare for their ICCAC opener against DMACC on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Southwestern jumped out to a solid 28-20 lead by halftime, powered by consistent defensive pressure and efficient shooting. The Spartans maintained control in the second half, outscoring Neosho County 36-31 to seal the victory.

Sophomore guard Rickey Loftin II led all scorers with a dominant 23-point performance, shooting 10-of-21 from the field while adding six rebounds and two assists. Donnary Fontenot provided a crucial spark off the bench with 14 points, including two three-pointers, and Jakub Jozef Istok added six points and three rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

Southwestern's defense was the key to victory, limiting Neosho County to just 34% shooting from the field and 27.6% from beyond the arc. The Spartans also forced 13 turnovers, with Theo Alexandersson Ohnell and Istok each grabbing two steals.

Neosho County's Champ Powaukee led his team with 10 points and five rebounds, while Joel Jerry contributed 10 points off the bench.

The Spartans will now turn their attention to DMACC, with Saturday's game marking the beginning of ICCAC action. Fans can catch all the action live at ICCAC Sports Network.

Game Highlights:

• Top Performer: Rickey Loftin II – 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
• Bench Impact: Donnary Fontenot – 14 points, 4 rebounds
• Key Stat: Southwestern shot 71.4% from the free-throw line, converting 10-of-14 attempts.

Let's keep it rolling, Spartans!