Iowa Wesleyan men lick Lions

MT. PLEASANT - After a couple losses to start the season, the Iowa Wesleyan men's basketball team was able to take out some frustration on visiting Finlandia on Saturday. The Tigers tamed the Lions 94-65 for their first win of the young season.

The Tigers wasted no time jumping all over the Lions. Iowa Wesleyan began the game on a 12-0 run, six points of which came from Jarryd Fernandes, who hit a couple layups down low and knocked down a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to double digits.

Finlandia cut Iowa Wesleyan's lead to eight points with 11:37 left in the first half, but that was as close as they would get. The Tigers led by 57-31 at halftime and stretched that advantage to as high as 36 points in the second half.

Fernandes had a big night, scoring 21 points nad pulling down 14 rebounds to lead the Tigers. Kaleb Cresswell scored 17 points, and led the team with three steals. Jett Tjaden scored 15 off the bench. all on five 3-pointers. David Seber finished with 11. Alex Dentlinger had 10. Jared Arellano scored seven. Marvin Saintolien had five. Sy Sanchez and Nico Sheck scored three apiece, and Shawn Lafrance ended the day with two.

Iowa Wesleyan is now 1-2 on the season. The Tiger men won't play again until they join the women for their first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road doubleheader at Blackburn College on Saturday, February 27.