Jalen Wynter scored 21 and and four others reached double figures as the Iowa Central men opened ICCAC play with a 79-68 victory over Western Iowa Tech on Saturday inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Jordan Cain and Vice Grbic each added 14, with Lane Campbell and CJ Mitchell contributing 10 each for the Tritons (7-3 overall, 1-0 in league). ICCC shot 47 percent from the field and buried 11 three-pointers.

Winter — a former Ames star — was 7 of 10 from deep, with Campbell and Cain adding two treys each.

For Western Iowa Tech (2-6, 0-1), Devares Whitaker scored 17 and Juavres Safford added 13.

Following a tough loss to sixth-ranked (Div. I) Indian Hills on the road last week, Iowa Central fell behind 11-4 before outscoring WIT 32-23 over the final 15 minutes of the first half. They would take the lead for good with under 10 to go.

“I thought we got it going on defense in the second half,” ICCC head coach Ryan Kirsch said. “To me, the difference in the game was around the seven-minute mark when Jalen knocked down one of his seven 3-pointers. That put us up seven and was a key moment in the game. It really gave us momentum.”

A triple from Wynter with 6:02 left made it 70-62, while Cain gave the Tritons a 10-point edge moments later with a bucket. Wynter sealed the win with another triple in the closing seconds.

“That might have been the best start by a freshman I’ve seen in my years of coaching,” Kirsch said. “He was being face-guarded in the second half and still was able to make three more 3-pointers.

“Jalen is just a talented shooter, a great player and a good kid.”

Grbic had six rebounds. Iowa Central recorded 13 offensive rebounds. Cain and Irakli Akhalaia each had four boards, while Cain added four steals and Wynter three.

The game featured 13 ties and 13 lead changes, with the Tritons holding a 26-13 advantage in bench points.

“We need to do a better job on defense in transition,” Kirsch said. “And we have to be better on the glass by being physical and rebounding the ball.”

Iowa Central hits the road on Wednesday to play No. 4 Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids.