HANNIBAL, MO. – Brian Gilbert of Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Iowa Wesleyan College shot just 35.9% in a 73-61 loss Tuesday night at Porter Gymnasium on the HLG campus.
The Tigers had trouble with the 6-foot-8 Gilbert and also had trouble hitting from the outside, making just eight of 29 three-point attempts (27.6%). Playing its fifth straight road game to start the season, IWC dropped to 2-3 overall while Hannibal-LaGrange improved to 2-1.
After the teams traded the lead for the first 10 minutes, Wesleyan fell behind midway through the first half and would never lead again. Following a scoring drought in the first half, the Tigers never got closer than three points the rest of the game.
IWC got within three several times late in the first half and early in the second half. Jared Callanan (Sr.-Bennington, Vt.) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer before halftime to cut HLG’s lead to 34-31 at the break. The Tigers also got within three twice early in the second half on three-pointers by Reggie Shipp (Jr.-Aurora, Ill.) and Brett Azinger (Fr.-Montrose, Iowa).
Hannibal would take control for good midway through the second half with a run to go ahead 61-49 with under eight minutes to go. The Tigers would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Shipp led IWC with 20 points and five assists and was the only player to score in double figures. Callanan, Azinger and Mike Lowe (Sr.-Panora, Iowa) also had nine points each. Azinger and Lowe also tied for the team rebounding lead with eight each.
The Tigers shot 23 of 64 for the game and also made just seven of 15 free throw tries (46.7%). Hannibal-LaGrange shot 27 of 57 (47.4%) and had Brock Webber and Gerell Wells (11 points each) and Josh Boswell (10 points) join Gilbert in double figures.
The Tigers will begin a six-game homestand next Tuesday with the home opener against Midland Lutheran (Neb.) College at 7 p.m. at Ruble Arena.
For more information regarding the IWC basketball programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
