MOUNT PLEASANT – Brett Humpal (Sr.-Decorah, Iowa) and Keenan Stanbridge (Jr.-Quincy, Ill.) both scored 18 points, Jared Callanan (Jr.-Bennington, Vt.) added 17 and Iowa Wesleyan College built a huge lead before cruising to a 76-59 win over Ashford University Saturday at Ruble Arena.
The Tigers shot well over 50% for much of the game and led by as many as 35 points in improving to 3-0 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play and 7-7 overall. Ashford made the game respectable with a strong push in the final 10 minutes but dropped to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
IWC shot 53.6% in the first half and held the Saints to 23.3% shooting (7-for-30) in racing out to a 43-20 halftime lead. The Tigers continued to dominate in the second half, building the lead and going ahead as much as 61-26 with 12:05 left in the game.
Wesleyan still led 66-33 after two free throws by Humpal with 9:06 left. Ashford clawed back with 18 straight points, though, getting within 66-51 after a four-point play by Daniel Joiner with 3:49 left. The Tigers responded with a jumper and then a breakaway dunk by Stanbridge to go back up 19 and led by no less than 14 the rest of the way.
IWC hit nine three-pointers in the game led by five from Callanan, who scored his 17 points in just 15 minutes off the bench. The Tigers ended up shooting 48.1% for the game, making 26 of 54 shots from the field.
Da’kari Shelby (Sr.-O’Fallon, Ill.) had 10 points to give Wesleyan four players scoring in double figures. Humpal added a game high 11 rebounds while Michael Coons (Sr.-Hannibal, Mo.) led the team with four assists.
The Tigers held Ashford to just 31.3% shooting for the game, as the Saints made 20 of 64 field goal attempts. Joiner led Ashford with 20 points, including 12 in the game’s final six minutes.
IWC now will be on the road for its next conference game Wednesday at St. Ambrose University. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Davenport. The Tigers will return home next Saturday to face Mount Mercy College at 3 p.m. at Ruble Arena. The Mustangs are the lone other undefeated left in the MCC early in the season, currently with a 2-0 record in conference play.
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.
