DMACC men’s basketball 23-1 so far

DMACC’s men’s basketball program has seen its most successful seasons ever throughout the 2020s, including its first NJCAA Division II national championship in 2021. The Bears came just shy of the championship in 2022 with a loss in the Final Four, but have only made it as far as the quarterfinals since then. In 2026, however, things are looking different.

The Bears currently sit at a staggering 23-1, 14-0 in the conference, and are ranked second in the nation. Spoon River handed DMACC its only loss of the season so far by a half-court buzzer beater all the way back on Nov. 15, meaning they currently are on a 16-game winning streak. Head coach Blake Sandquist described that loss as a teaching point, which has only made the team better.

“It was a humbling moment for our group,” Sandquist said in an email interview. “We’ve used it as a teaching point–staying composed, controlling what we can control, and understanding how thin the margin is at this level. That experience helped ground our guys and reinforced the habits, focus, and togetherness needed to grow as a team.”

What might terrify other contenders for the national championship is that, despite being seconds away from having a perfect 23-0 season, Sandquist believes the best is still yet to come.

“This team still has a long ways to reach their potential, which is a good thing considering our current record,” Sandquist said. “We still have a lot of moments where we look as young as we are, but these kids are resilient, and I’m excited to see how the season finishes.”

Building a program that consistently competes for championships is no easy task, but it is done through culture and players building into it. Sandquist says the culture on this year’s team is “as strong as any team he’s coached,” and sophomore Rylan Smith plays a major role with it.

“He’s set the standard with his work ethic, voice, and consistency,” Sandquist said. “He’s helped establish an environment built on trust, accountability, and togetherness, and that culture has allowed this group to grow quickly and stay resilient through adversity.”

Winning championships is something that freshman Kiki Deng knows very well, as he was a key factor in West Des Moines Valley claiming three consecutive Class 4A championships from 2023-25. The Des Moines native guard leads the team with 14.2 points per game in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) play.

Sandquist encourages students from all DMACC campuses to attend Sophomore Day vs. No. 15 Iowa Western at 3 p.m. on Feb. 14, and No. 4 Ellsworth at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 to close out the regular season. The Bears play at “The Den,” located inside the Boone Campus.

“Students should make the trip to Boone because this team plays an exciting brand of basketball,” Sandquist said. “We play fast, we defend with intensity, and we compete every possession, which makes our games fun to watch.”

“Beyond the style of play, this group plays for each other and brings great energy to the floor, and that’s something you can feel in the gym. We want our students to be a part of that atmosphere and help make road games feel like home.”