Ron Singleton rang in the new year with a healthy new dose of confidence Friday night.

Singleton shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and scored a career-high 23 points as the 10th-ranked Kirkwood Eagles strolled by the University of Dubuque junior varsity, 86-40, at Johnson Hall.

Singleton is a strong 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Chicago, but he's had problems finishing around the rim and is averaging only five points for the season in 14 games. He showed what he's capable of accomplishing Friday night, however.

Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen has kept Singleton in the starting lineup for the most part, knowing he had the potential to do big things.

"My biggest thing with Ron is, we need him," said Petersen. "We need him to produce, we need him to play at a high level for us to achieve our goals.

"He had a tough first semester, and he knows it," said Petersen. "But we stayed with him because we need him and he puts in the time. He did a nice job out there today. I really liked his rebounding more than anything."

Singleton grabbed six rebounds, including three offensive boards, and had three steals. In addition to his 8-for-8 showing from the field, he went 7-for-8 at the foul line in a near-perfect performance.

Singleton is a power forward who likes to play near the basket, but he had problems getting his shots to fall in November and December.

"It was kind of frustrating not making the shots, but my coaches kept telling me it would come," said Singleton. "Just keep working on my game and the shots will start falling. Just keep working on it, keep defending and eventually they'll drop."

Singleton looked smooth, confident and strong Friday.

"Trusting my instincts, making the first move that would come into my head," he explained, "and having confidence in my shot and just making them and keep believing in everything."

Singleton spent one year at Cochise College in Douglas, Ariz., before transferring to Kirkwood this season. "It just didn't work out (at Cochise)," he said. "The coaches didn't want me back or a couple of other guys. They cut everybody except one dude."

He was happy to get a second chance at Kirkwood.

"One day they called me when I was at my other school and they told me they wanted me," he said. "They'd never seen me play before, but they wanted me. They just kept calling me and I made my decision to come here."

Petersen knew it was just a matter of time before Singleton would produce at a high level, instead of scoring only a few points per game.

"We've seen it," said Petersen. "We've seen him produce (in practice). It's just a matter of getting it done in a game and getting it going in a game.

"I think it's just a confidence thing that's been bothering him. And tonight I'm hoping it can really steer him in the right direction for the rest of the season

"He needed to see the ball go in, and it did for him tonight," said Petersen. "Hopefully it will continue. It was against a jayvee team, but I don't care. He produced, and now he has to build on it."

Jordan Ashton scored 15 points and Matt Lassen pitched in with 12 as Kirkwood raised its record to 11-3.

Freshman Jacob Olson did not play for the Eagles due to a leg injury, but Petersen expects him back for Kirkwood's home game against Marshalltown next Wednesday night.

DUBUQUE JV (40): Calvert 1 0-0 2, Hinck 5 1-2 12 Arthofer 1 0-0 3, Morrisey 3 9-9 15, Moragne 0 0-0 0, Cooper 0 0-0 0, Weber 1 0-0 2, Murray 1 0-0 2, Bronson 1 2-2 4. Totals 13 12-13 40.

KIRKWOOD (86): Singleton 8 7-8 23, Lassen 5 2-2 12, Rhodes 2 0-0 4, Ashton 5 2-2 15, Tagarelli 2 2-2 6, Lawton 0 0-0 0, Richards 1 2-2 4, Weeks 2 0-0 4, Cowser 3 0-1 7, Martin 2 0-0 5, Ukah 3 0-0 6, Hyberg 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 15-17 86.

Halftime - Kirkwood 45, Dubuque JV 19. 3-point goals - Dubuque JV 2 (Hinck 1, Arthofer 1), Kirkwood 5 (Ashton 3, Cowser 1, Martin 1).