IW extends win streak to 12

MT. PLEASANT — Iowa Wesleyan continues to play some magnificent basketball.

The Tigers, who are receiving votes in the NAIA poll, won their 13th game of the season downing the Williams Baptist University Eagles 87-61 on Saturday.

Iowa Wesleyan set the tone early, as Allante Pickens got the Tigers on the board less than five second into the game.

Gacoby Jones then gave the Tigers an 11-2 lead after drilling three triples.

The Eagles didn’t give up though, as they put together a run of their own to get back into the game, tying the game at 30-30.

Iowa Wesleyan take momentum into the locker room as they ended the half on an 14-8 run, which including a Henry Shannon lob dunk off an inbounds play with under a second left in the half to take a 44-38 lead into the break.

At the half, Jones led the Tigers with 15 points on an efficient 6-8 shooting. Shannon added nine first half points and six rebounds.

The Tigers would once again set the tone early in the half, but this time it was defensively.

Iowa Wesleyan held the Eagles without a field goal for the first four and half minutes of the second half.

With the defensive prowess, in a flash the Tigers had extended their lead to 20 points. Iowa Wesleyan led by as much as 28 points with under two minutes to play and held on down the stretch.

The Tigers outshot the Eagles from the floor 51.6 percent (36-62) to 34.5 percent (19-55). The Eagles outshot the Tigers from beyond the arc, 62.5 percent (10-16) to 40 percent (10-25). The Tiger bench outscored the Eagle bench 21 to 16. The Tigers also out-rebounded the Eagles 46 to 26.

IW extends their win streak to 12 games overall and six straight home games, and their overall season record to 13-1.

They were led offensively by Jones with 23 points. Jones also added six assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Pickens added 15 points. Shannon added 13 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Carver Locke led the Tiger bench with 15 points. Victor Munoz added six points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal off the bench for the Tigers.