Some powerful opposition shot down Vermilion during the opening week of the collegiate basketball season.
Visiting North Daktota State College of Science ran away with a 112-65 victory over the Ironhawks in Wednesday’s home opener at the raucous Vermilion gymnasium.
A loud home crowd could do little to lift the Ironhawks against a much taller, more athletic NDSCS team, which turned a 27-22 lead into a 5534 bulge by the break.
The Wildcats poured it on from there, reaching the century mark late in the contest.
Jikany Deang, a 6-11 sophomore, drained his first five three-point attempts and finished with six for the night on his way to a 26-point, 10 rebound day.
Chan Okey, who stands 6-7, added another 24 points for the winners.
Four starters for the Wildcats reached double figures while Vermilion was led by freshmen Kris Tiller and Dorian Jackman, who scored 14 points each.
Sophomore Rashad Parms added 12 points for Vermilion and 6-8 Desmond Olatunji had four points with five rebounds.
The Ironhawks shot just six-for-26 from three-point distance.
• In Saturday’s season- opener, defending league champion Riverland rolled to 93-61 win over the Ironhawks at Austin.
The Blue Devils enjoyed a massive 48-26 edge on the boards and force 20 Vermilion turnovers.
Three Riverland players scored in double figures with Nick Ekland pouring in a game-high 18.
Jackman paced Vermilion with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Tiller (13) and NaTorrius Truitt (11) were next in line.
• Vermilion was much more competitive in Sunday’s finale at Austin, but came up short 80-72 to Anoka- Ramsey.
Tiller knocked down three triples and led Vermilion in the scoring chart with 16 points, with Jackman finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
Sophomore Mudia Gbowa had 12 points and eight rebounds.
• Vermilion tangles with Lake Region (ND) and Willison State (ND) in matchups this weekend at Devils Lake, ND, and the Ironhawks are back home Friday to take on Rochester.
FAST BREAK for Vermilion’s Aleysha Maya, who came to Ely from Quito, Ecuador. Looking on was teammate Trinity Bodie.
