Win number five of the season didn't come easy as the game went down to the wire but the #7 Highland men's basketball team picked up the 76-72 grind it out win over a game Des Moines Area Community College team that is receiving votes in NJCAA Division II polls.

In a game that featured 15 lead changes and several ties the Scotties after being done 6-5 took the lead and lead most of the first half going up by as many as six at 22-16 but the lead primarily stayed around three to one point until late in the first half. With under 3:30 minutes to go before halftime DMACC took their first lead since 6-5 early in the game and the lead was tossed back and forth in the final portion of the first half. With 12 seconds remaining the first half DMACC made 1-2 free throws and tied the game at 38-38 and got the ball back after a Scottie turnovers giving them an opportunity in the half court to take the lead just before the half but their opportunity came up empty and at halftime the game was tied 38-38.

Neither team took control to open the second half with the lead changing hands multiple times. Highland led 51-46 with 15:36 left in the contest when DMACC put together an 11-1 run to own a 57-52 lead and take their largest lead of the ballgame. Scotties answered back with a 6-0 run to regain the lead momentarily and then the game once again worked to a tie this time at 64-64 with 5:16 remaining in the game. Behind a Taiveyhon Mason bucket at the 4:28 mark the Scotties took the lead back and never gave it up holding off the advances of DMACC down the stretch and sealing the game with some free throws and late turnovers by the Bears winning 76-72.

Mason carried the load for Highland besting his career high from last week with his first 30-point game in college finishing with 30 points on 11-23 shooting including 7-9 from the free throw line. Jaquan Daniels finished the game with 14 points doing his work in the second half including a monstrous dunk, while Tristen Hull tallied eight points and five rebounds. Luiz Machado also chipped in eight points and Andre Jackson finished with five points but grabbed 11 rebounds.

The win keeps the Scotties undefeated on the season moving the team to 5-0 on the year. Highland continues their season at home on Friday and Saturday, November 16^th and 17^th as they host the Scottie Classic and will face Quakerdale Prep and Graceland University JV at 7:30pm and 5:00pm, respectively.