WEST BURLINGTON - The top-ranked Kirkwood men's basketball team  defeated Illinois Central, 87-68, in the season opener Friday night to  give Tim Sandquist his first victory as head coach at the SCC Classic  in West Burlington.

Devonte Thedford led the Eagles with 17 points and five assists for  the defending NJCAA Division II national champions. Seybian Sims and  Jamal Stevenson netted 12 points apiece for Kirkwood. Newcomer DJ  Purnell contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.

Griffen Clark and Stephenson were both 3-for-4 on 3-pointers. Niko  Gosnell blocked three shots for Kirkwood.

Fred Cottrell led Illinois Central with 16 points.

KIRKWOOD (87): Seybian Sims 3-6 4-4 12, DJ Purnell 2-5 6-8 10, Niko  Gosnell 2-2 2-4 6, Devonte Thedford 3-11 11-11 17, Brady Sartorius 2-5  3-3 8, Chris Burnell 0-0 0-0 0, Tre'Quan Carrington 2-6 3-5 7, Gacoby  Jones 0-2 0-2 0, Griffen Clark 3-4 0-0 9, Jamal Stephenson 4-7 1-1 12,  Jalen Taylor 1-1 1-2 4, Owen Coburn 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 22-51 33-42 87.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL (68): Joe Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Armoni Hall 3-8 3-3 9,  Patrick McKenzie 1-4 1-2 3, DJ Davis 2-8 2-2 6, Zach Lewkowski 3-8 0-0  8, Anthony Grant 1-1 2-4 4, Jesse Brown 0-1 1-3 1, Katon Brown 2-4 2-2  6, Damond Crosby 1-2 4-5 6, Cole Morton 0-0 0-0 0, Koby Klaus 0 0-1 0,  Tyler Bruggenwirth 0-1 0-2 0, Max May 0 2-2 2, Fred Cottrell 5-7 6-9  16, Joe Nelan 0-2 3-4 3, Garrett Snow 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 20-50 26-39 68.

3-point goals - Kirkwood 10-22 (Clark 3-4, Stephenson 3-4, Sims 2-5,  Taylor 1-1, Sartorius 1-3), Illinois Central 2 (Lewkowski 2).