Behind a 20-1 run midway through the second half, the Iowa Central men were able to secure a victory in their season opener, topping North Iowa Area here Wednesday night, 75-64.

Five Triton players reached double figures led by 16 from Uzo Dibiamaka. Javonte Keck recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while PJ Ngambi had 14.

Jaxon Smith chipped in 12 and seven rebounds off the bench with Ayris Abdelnassar adding 10.

"Our defense really stepped it up there in the second half," ICCC head coach Chad Helle said. "Shots weren't falling for us in the first and we didn't do a good job of rebounding. In the second half, when we started to guard better and rebound better, the shots started to fall."

Iowa Central was 12 of 27 from the field including 8-for-17 from the 3-point line over the final 20 minutes when they outscored the Trojans, 39-26.

"It's an old saying that defense travels," Helle said. "Sometimes you just might not be making shots or getting them to fall. But your defensive intensity can always be there."

Down 53-50, the Tritons started clicking on all cylinders, holding NIACC to a single made free throw over a lengthy stretch of play. Dibiamaka had a key triple and Keck finished off the 20-1 run with a bucket, giving Iowa Central a 69-54 advantage.

Ngambi also had three steals and three assists with Dibiamaka and Abdelnassar recording three assists each. Dibiamaka also grabbed eight rebounds.

The Tritons are back in action this Saturday, hosting Iowa Western inside Hodges Fieldhouse at 3 p.m.

-By Dana Becker