CRESTON - The No. 1 junior college men's basketball team from last  season met the No. 2 team from this season in the opening game of the  ICCAC conference race Saturday afternoon.

The clash did not have a happy ending for the Kirkwood Eagles, who are  the defending NJCAA Division II champions.

Southwestern Community College clipped the Eagles, 94-83, in a  high-scoring game in Creston for its 17th straight win of the season.

Kirkwood (12-4) trailed by 15 points at halftime, 51-36, but the  Eagles rallied and pulled within a few points in the second half  before falling short.

Byron Harp led Kirkwood with 25 points. Chris King scored 20 points  and Miles Wentzein had 16. Shakur Triplett grabbed 14 rebounds for the  Eagles.

KIRKWOOD (83): Triplett 4 0-2 8, Harp 9 3-4 25, Jackson 0 0-0 0,  Wentzien 5 4-4 16, Meeker 2 0-0 6, Fagan 1 2-2 5, C.King 7 5-6 20, Marble 1 0-0 3, Henry 0 0-0 0, D.King 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 14-18 83.

Halftime - Southwestern 51, Kirkwood 36. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 11  (Harp 4, Wentzien 2, Meeker 2, Fagan 1, C.King 1, Marble 1).