ELGIN, ILL. – Keenan Stanbridge (Sr.-Quincy, Ill.) scored 22 points to lead five players in double figures and Iowa Wesleyan College defeated Judson (Ill.) University 100-84 at the Judson Classic Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers gained a split of their weekend tourney by defeating the host team one day after losing for the first time this season. Wesleyan was defeated by Trinity International (Ill.) University 83-78 Friday night in its first game of the invitational, but after the win over Judson left the tourney with a 3-1 overall record.
IWC finished its weekend by defeating a Judson team ranked 21st in the NAIA Division II preseason coaches’ poll. The Tigers were hot from the field, shooting 54.4% (37-for-68) for the game and hitting 10 of 18 three-point tries.
Wesleyan raced out to a 56-38 halftime lead and led by as many as 28 points midway through the second half. Though Judson (2-4 overall) shot a high percentage, the Eagles committed 22 turnovers as the Tigers picked up 13 steals in the game.
Along with Stanbridge, Davis Warner (Jr.-Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Dionte Mucker (Jr.-Louisville, Ky.) helped in scoring with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Nate Fuqua (Sr.-Maywood, Ill.) and Jeremy Simmons (Jr.-Jackson, Tenn.) also both added 13 points each.
The Tigers didn’t get off to a good start at Judson with the loss to Trinity International. Patrick Atkins of Trinity scored on a layup with 22 seconds left to break a 75-75 tie, and the Trojans hit six consecutive free throws in the final 11 seconds to salt away the win.
IWC out-rebounded TIU 38-30 but committed 24 turnovers and permitted 51.7% shooting (15 of 29) by the Trojans in the second half. Stanbridge led the Tigers with 15 points, including four three-pointers, while Fuqua added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Wesleyan now gets ready to host its annual Kiwanis Classic next weekend, Nov. 19 and 20. The tourney opens with Grand View University facing Ozark Christian (Mo.) College at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, with the Tigers facing Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College in the game to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Box score TIU 83 IWC 78
Box score IWC 100 #21 Judson 84
