Comets close 2023 with loss to No. 8 Iowa Lakes

Nobody said it would be easy.

By the luck -- or lack thereof -- of the draw, the newly formed Western Iowa Tech men's basketball team wasn't eased into the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference, arguably the most competitive men's basketball conference in the country, pound-for-pound.

The Comets' first four conference games were against the ICCAC's top four teams, all of which were also in the top-12 of the national rankings. Des Moines Area, Ellsworth, Kirkwood and Iowa Lakes sport a combined conference record of 14-2. The only two losses have come against each other, with Kirkwood losing to DMACC and Iowa Lakes to Kirkwood.

Sunday's 99-73 matinee loss to No. 8 Iowa Lakes in the Tyson Events Center was the latest "Welcome to the league" moment for the upstart Comets (4-8 overall, 0-4 ICCAC), who've held their own against the nation's best but are still working to get over the hump against a nationally ranked team.

Rather than worry about how the scheduling quirk impacts the early-season record, WIT head coach Harvis "Coco" Cofield embraces the challenge.

"Playing four of the top nationally rank teams is a tough start, but I would not have it no other way," Cofield said. "We needed to experience how tough our conference is."

The Lakers, currently fourth place in the ICCAC, boasted a deep, balanced attack that was efficient at nearly every level.

All five starters scored at least 13 points as the Lakers shot 52.6% from the field, 40.9% on 3-pointers and, in their weakest facet of the game, only 10 of 16 (62.5%) from the foul line.

"Our players understand that there's no days off," Cofield said. "We will keep building and getting better."

Comets sophomore Latrel Davis scored 15 points and had six rebounds, both team highs. Freshman Manuel Paul had 15 points with a team-best three blocks.

In what Cofield called "his best game performance of the season," sophomore Bie Ruei added 13 points, five boards, a team-high four assists and one steal. 

"We have been challenging Bie to give us more and he did," Cofield said.

Keishaun Pendleton scored eight points on 3-for-3 shooting.

The Comets are back to ICCAC play on January 3, when they travel to Creston to play at Southwestern (5-8, 0-4).