Coe men’s basketball looking for another hot streak

CEDAR RAPIDS — With nine games left before the American Rivers Conference tournament, the Coe men’s basketball team is trying to get hot again after losing three straight, including a 76-72 defeat at Wartburg on Wednesday night.

“We go out there and compete every day with no fear,” said Kohawk junior Greg Hall. “We can be relentless because we have each other’s back every step of the way.”

That positive style of play propelled Coe (11-5, 3-4) to an 8-1 start overall, with its lone loss coming by a point in overtime at NAIA Graceland. However, Hall and the Kohawks have dropped behind Wartburg (13-2, 6-0), Dubuque (10-5, 5-1) and Buena Vista (8-8, 5-2) in the league standings, with Loras (11-4, 3-3) in the thick of it as well.

The Kohawks conclude their first half of the ARC home-and-away rotation next Wednesday when they host Nebraska Wesleyan in a doubleheader with the men scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., following a 5:30 women’s start.

While Hall’s teammates can’t always agree on who has the best tacos in town, the Kohawks spend a lot of time together sharing meals and memories.

“One thing we do really well is our brotherhood,” Hall said. “Our bond helps us on the court with communication and trust.”

Hall also trusts his mom, Gwen, when it comes to any debate on food.

“I tend to go home,” said Hall, who grew up in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Linn-Mar after following his brothers Devin and Bryan Jones in the Lions’ program.

“I hang with dad (Bruce) on Sundays and watch football,” Hall said. “He lives and breathes that Cowboys swagger.”

Going to school just 15 minutes from home was a draw for Hall, who followed Linn-Mar teammate Jacob Robertson to Coe.

“I saw they had a really good program and community and I’m really enjoying studying business administration,” Hall said before adding, “there are six of us (Linn-Mar graduates) here.”

While Hall could play two more years with the Kohawks, he will start looking for a job or internship after next season and the completion of his fourth year.

“Being at Coe, there are a lot of job opportunities,” Hall said. “You can get your degree and get out, which is the main point.”

Once his playing days are over, Hall believes, “Cedar Rapids would be a good starting point for my career.”

Schedule updates

Mount Mercy has announced its doubleheader with Central Methodist (Mo.) scheduled for noon on Saturday at the Hennessey Rec Center has been changed to a 2 p.m. start for the women’s game and a 4 p.m. tipoff for the men’s contest.

The Mustangs also have had their Heart of America doubleheader at Peru State (Neb.) moved from Wednesday to Thursday, with the women starting at 5:30 p.m. and the men following at 7:30.

Cornell has adjusted both its men’s and women’s basketball teams’ schedules, with games postponed through Tuesday; a Jan. 23 doubleheader at Lake Forest (Ill.) is now up next for both squads.

The Luther men will travel to face Central at 3 p.m. Saturday; the women’s contest originally set for 2 p.m. has been postponed.

Coe, Kirkwood and Upper Iowa currently have no changes planned for their upcoming games.

Comments: justin.webster@thegazette.com