Balanced attack leads IW men to win

Five Tigers reached double figures in the Iowa Wesleyan men's basketball win over Knox College on Saturday.

After scoring the first points of the game, Iowa Wesleyan built a five point lead early on when Avree Clark drained a three pointer to bring the score to 7-2. Knox was able to stay close to the Tigers as the half continued, never falling behind by double figures. Iowa Wesleyan's largest lead of the half was eight points, which came after back to back baskets by Austin Banks and Austin Rebel with 11:09 remaining.

The Prairie Fire continued to chip away and took their first lead of the game at the 6:03 minute mark after back to back three pointers. Austin Rebel tied it up on the next possession and Alberto Torres put IW back in front with a three pointer. Knox would regain the lead, going up by three with just over three and a half minutes remaining in the half. Clark hit a three pointer to give Iowa Wesleyan the lead once again, and they would close the half with a 33-29 advantage.

The second half began with a jumper by Knox, but Iowa Wesleyan answered with an 11-0 run ending with three pointers by Avree Clark and Kaleb Cresswell. The run put IW up by 13 points with 16:50 remaining in the game. Knox cut the Tiger lead to nine points with 16:09 on the clock, but Iowa Wesleyan had another offensive burst which saw their lead grow to 18 points with 11:40 left to play.

Knox didn't go away and eventually brought the deficit to single digits with a three pointer at the 5:40 minute mark. Jarryd Fernandes competed a three-point play and Clark hit a pair of free throws to extend the IW lead to 14 a minute later. Knox once again cut the lead to nine, this time with a minute remaining. They were forced to foul, and Iowa Wesleyan closed it out with free throws.

Rebel led the team with 14 points. Clark scored 13. Fernandes had 10. Torres scored 11 and Banks had 10.

Iowa Wesleyan will be back in action tonight (Wednesday). They will host Cornell College at 7 p.m. in Ruble Arena. The Tigers improve to 2-6 overall on the season.