MOUNT PLEASANT – Iowa Wesleyan College shot a sizzling 60% from the field and drained 11 three-pointers, overcoming some early struggles to dispose of Waldorf College 82-70 Saturday afternoon in Midwest Collegiate Conference action.
The Tigers hit 30 of 50 shots for the game and did their best work in the second half, shooting 63% from the floor in improving to 10-9 overall and 6-2 in the MCC. Wesleyan also made 11 of 23 three-point tries, including seven in the first half when the stubborn Warriors put the pressure on for awhile by putting IWC in a hole.
It was actually a first half cold spell for Wesleyan comined with Waldorf’s attacking penetrating offense that resulted in the Warriors breaking an early stalemate to take a 27-20 lead with 5:17 left in the first half. The Tigers finished the half strong, though, making six straight shots at one point and finishing the first half on a 13-2 run to take a 36-31 lead into halftime.
IWC’s momentum continued in the second half, as the Tigers hit first their five shots and nine of their first 12 in steadily building a lead. Da’kari Shelby (Sr.-O’Fallon, Ill.) had a big second half with 15 points in the final 20 minutes alone, and his free throws with 15:54 remaining pushed the margin to 51-38. The Warriors would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the game, and Wesleyan would lead by as many as 19 points on two occasions, the second time when Shelby’s dunk on the fast break made it 80-61 with 3:46 left.
Brett Humpal (Sr.-Decorah, Iowa) had 22 points and led the Tigers with eight rebounds and four steals. Humpal also tied Shelby for the team lead with five assists and made nine of 15 shots from the field.
Shelby finished with 18 points for the game and hit six of seven field goals, including all five of his attempts in the second half. He was joined in double figures by Jason Garber (Sr.-Emden, Ill.), who scored 14 points and made four of six three-point tries.
The Tigers made 17 of 27 shot attempts in the second half after making 13 of 23 in the first half. IWC also out-rebounded the Warriors 33-28.
Chris Holloway led Waldorf with 17 points. The Warriors dropped to 7-10 overall, 1-7 in the MCC.
The Tigers now get ready to host rival William Penn University on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Ruble Arena. The Statesmen are currently ranked 24th in NAIA Division II and will be looking for revenge after IWC defeated them 97-81 back on Dec. 3.
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.
