MOUNT PLEASANT – Grand View University hit 19 of 20 free throw attempts in the game, including 11 of 12 in the game’s latter stages, as the Vikings defeated Iowa Wesleyan College 66-56 Wednesday night in Midwest Collegiate Conference men’s basketball.
The Tigers came back from a 15-point deficit early in the second half to get within three points, but the Vikings used a 13-0 run late to drop Wesleyan to 4-2 in the MCC and 8-9 overall. Grand View improved to 4-1 in the conference, 12-6 overall.
IWC shot 37.9% for the game, hitting 22 of 58 shots. The Tigers were cold from behind the three-point line, hitting just nine of 33 triple attempts (27.3%), and also were out-rebounded 39-25 in the game by the Vikings.
Wesleyan led by seven points in the game’s early stages but lost the lead midway through the first half and never regained it. GVU led 33-24 at halftime on the strength of a 23-14 rebounding edge.
Still, the Tigers fought to make it a game in the second half after falling behind 43-28 with 15:58 left in the game. A 14-2 run got IWC within three points at 45-42 with 10:04 left, and the Tigers got within three on two more occasions, the last time after a lay-up by Da’kari Shelby (Sr.-O’Fallon, Ill.) made it 49-46 with 8:10 left in the game.
Wesleyan would go cold, though, missing its next seven shots. Meanwhile, the Vikings scored 13 straight points in that time to put the game out of reach, capped by a dunk by Rohan Greaves that gave GVU a 62-46 lead with 2:35 left. That basket was Grand View’s only field goal in the final 4:51, but the Vikings hit nine of 10 free throws in the final four minutes.
Jason Garber (Sr.-Emden, Ill.) kept the Tigers in the game with 10 points in the first half and finished with 13 to lead the team. Garber also tied Shelby for the team lead in rebounds with five. Brett Humpal (Sr.-Decorah, Iowa) added 10 points and a game-high five assists.
Grand View was led by Grant Burns with 12 points off the bench. In addition to shooting 95% from the foul stripe, the Vikings also shot 46.9% from the field, making 23 of 49 shots.
Wesleyan will be on the road again for its next game Saturday in LaCrosse, Wis., against Viterbo University. The Tigers will then return home for their next game Jan. 24 against Waldorf College.
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.
