Poplar Bluff, MO – No. 5 Indian Hills Men's Basketball picked up its fifth consecutive win to open the new year as the Warriors rolled to an 86-66 victory over Three Rivers Community College on the opening night of the Iowa-Missouri Challenge.

The Warriors move to 5-0 overall on the year after rolling past Three Rivers in Friday's Iowa-Missouri Challenge nightcap. Indian Hills improves to 5-0 all-time at the Iowa-Missouri Challenge which began in 2019. The Warriors previously defeated Three Rivers in the Iowa-Missouri Challenge in the inaugural year with a 87-58 victory on November 8, 2019.

Freshman Kiran Oliver (Chicago, IL/New Mexico State) scored 18 points for the Warriors after going 7-9 from the floor, including 4-6 from three-point range. Sophomore Don McHenry (Milwaukee, WI/Hawaii-Hilo) came off the bench to add 18 for the Warriors while going 8-12 from the floor. McHenry connected on two of three three-point shots in the win.

Kiran Oliver with the 3-pointer‼️@ihccbasketball leads in the second half 53-24 pic.twitter.com/tu0gWXSEmR

— GoHillsTV (@GoHillsTv) November 12, 2022

Sophomore Lado Laku (Dallas, TX/Cal State Fullerton) was a perfect 4-4 from the floor to finish the night with 11 points. Sophomore Eddiean Tirado (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Miami Triple Threat) hit three three-point shots and finished the night with 10 points.

As a team, the Warriors connected on 56.7 percent of its shots, going 34-67 from the floor. The sharp-shooting Indian Hills squad also converted 14 of its 30 shots from beyond the arc and are now shooting 43.7 percent from three-point range in the team's five contests this year.

In the opening night finale of the Iowa-Missouri Challenge, the Warriors jumped out to a measurable lead over the Raiders in the early stages of the first half. McHenry connected on his first three shots of the night, including a pair of three-point shots to spark the Warrior offense. Indian Hills took a sizable 44-21 lead into halftime.

The three-point shooting barrage continued for the Warriors in the second to extend the team's lead to 27 in the opening minute, the team's largest of the night. The Indian Hills defense limited Three Rivers to just 2-12 from beyond the arc in the second half after not allowing a three in the opening frame. The Warriors ran away with the second half and carried out the way to remain unbeaten on the year.

The Warriors totaled 36 points from its bench players on the night and are now averaging 48.4 points per game from its bench this season.

Indian Hills is back in action Saturday night for the final matchup of the Iowa-Missouri Challenge with a 6:00 PM jump vs. State Fair Community College.