Harper, Tigers return from long layoff to hold off Waldorf

FOREST CITY ? Jeff Harper scored 22 points in his return from an ankle injury and the Iowa Wesleyan College men?s basketball team held off a late charge by Waldorf College for a 77-71 win Wednesday night in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.

The Tigers played for the first time in 25 days and shot 50.8 percent from the field, never trailing to improve to 8-3 overall, 3-1 in the MCC. The Warriors made it interesting in the final minutes, getting within two points before Wesleyan finally put it away.

IWC led 60-46 with 13:33 left in the game after Jeremy Simmons hit one of his five three-pointers. Waldorf (5-6 overall, 1-3 MCC) chipped away, however, and closed to 73-71 after Eddie Taylor-Boyce hit a jumper with 1:05 to play.

The Tigers got a big answer their next time down as Harper hit a short baseline shot with 39 seconds left to put the lead back at four. Wesleyan missed chances to salt it away at the free throw line, missing two one-and-ones, but the Warriors missed four jumpers in the final minute. Shakka Eke made two free throws with six seconds left to finally close it out.

IWC shot at least 50 percent in both halves, making 30 of 59 shots for the game. Harper led the way throughout making 9 of 11 shots. The 6-foot-8 center scored on a variety of moves in the post and on the fast break in his first game since spraining an ankle on Dec. 3 against AIB.

Simmons also added 19 points, heating up in the second half with four of his five three-pointers. Eke added 14 points off the bench in his first game of the season, and Kyle Warner added 12 points. Warner scored 10 of his points in the first half, including a pair of three-pointers to start the game for the Tigers.

Brian Tollette led Waldorf with 17 points. The Warriors shot 37.1 percent (23 of 62) and made just five of 24 three-point tries, but stayed in the game by making 20 of 25 from the free throw line (80.0 percent).

IWC will be back on the court Saturday when it faces its rival William Penn University. The Tigers and Statesmen will face off at 3 p.m. at Ruble Arena, playing 20 minutes after the conclusion of the women?s game.