MASON CITY - The Kirkwood men's basketball team moved to the top of the national rankings this week, but it did not help the Eagles in their first game as the new No. 1 team in the land.

The 12th-ranked NIACC Trojans dumped the Eagles, 95-81, in their showdown for first place in the ICCAC conference standings Saturday.

The Trojans moved into first place with a 9-1 record in the league. The Eagles are now in second place by a half-game with an 8-1 mark in the 14-game campaign.

Kirkwood hammered NIACC, 83-65, in their first meeting on Jan. 19 in Cedar Rapids, but the Trojans returned the favor in the rematch. NIACC raced to a 48-31 lead at halftime.

Doug Wilson led the Eagles (20-3) with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Connor Kasperbauer hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points. Luke Appel finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Devonte Thedford scored 10 points.

Deundra Roberson scored 24 points for NIACC (19-3) and Quentin Hardrict had 21 points.

KIRKWOOD (81): Sims 3 2-3 8, Pickens 0 0-0 0, Thedford 4 2-2 10, Sartorius 2 2-2 6, Stephenson 0 0-1 0, Kasperbauer 6 0-0 15, Wilson 9 5-8 23, Gosnell 0 0-0 0, Arrington 4 0-0 8, Appel 4 2-3 11. Totals 32 13-19 81.

NIACC (95): Harris 4 4-4 12, Lang 4 1-1 11, Hardrict 6 7-9 21, Roberson 10 2-2 24, Matthews 6 1-4 13, Dean 2 0-0 4, Sampson 4 0-0 8, Kelly 1 0-0 2. Totals 37 15-21 95.

Halftime - NIACC 48, Kirkwood 31. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 4 (Kasperbauer 3, Appel 1), NIACC 6 (Lang 2, Hardrict 2, Roberson 2).