DUBUQUE – Da’kari Shelby (Sr.-O’Fallon, Ill.) had 24 points, Michael Coons (Sr.-Hannibal, Mo.) scored a career high 18, and Iowa Wesleyan College again shot well from the field and the free throw line in a 94-84 win over Clarke College Thursday night.
The Tigers finished the first half with a 13-0 burst and never trailed again the rest of the night, winning their fourth straight to take over second place in the Midwest Collegiate Conference standings. IWC is now 8-2 in the MCC, 12-9 overall.
IWC shot better than 50% for the third straight game, making 30 of 58 attempts from the field (51.7%). The Tigers also had their second straight game excelling at the charity stripe, knocking down 27 of 36 free throw attempts (75.0%).
The game turned in Wesleyan’s favor late in the first half, after the teams had swapped the lead eight times in the game’s first 16 minutes. The Tigers scored 13 straight points, turning a 30-29 deficit into a 42-30 lead with 1:28 left in the first half.
IWC went into halftime with a 42-35 lead and never fell behind in the second half despite several close moments. Clarke was still just three points down after a jumper by Chad Salisbury made it 65-63 with 10:13 to play. Shelby responded with the game’s next seven points for a 72-63 Tiger lead leading to a Crusader timeout 7:50 to play. Coons soon after followed with a lay-up and a three-pointer to give IWC a 77-67 lead, and the lead never fell below seven points the rest of the way for Wesleyan.
Shelby’s 24 points included 10-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. Brett Humpal (Sr.-Decorah, Iowa) added 20 points and tied Shelby for IWC rebounding honors with seven. Jason Garber (Sr.-Emden, Ill.) gave the Tigers a fourth player scoring in double figures with 13 points, including 7-for-8 shooting at the foul line.
Cory Billingsley led five Clarke players in double figures with 18 points. The Crusaders (5-18 overall, 2-8 MCC) shot 41.5% for the game (27-for-65) and out-rebounded the Tigers 43-35.
The game marked the 199th career win for IWC Head Coach Alan Magnani. Magnani will go for his 200th win on Saturday when the Tigers are in Clinton to face Ashford University at 3 p.m.
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.
