Sluggish start dooms Tiger men again

MT. PLEASANT — It’s a story that has become all too familiar for the Iowa Wesleyan men’s basketball team. Just minutes into the game, the Tigers find themselves in a hole.

Iowa Wesleyan faced an 8-point deficit just five minutes into the ballgame, and Clarke College took advantage, racing away with an 87-66 victory.

It was the Tigers’ third game at Ruble Arena this season, and in all three, the opposing team had had the upper-hand early.

Last week, it was Mount Mercy, who held a commanding 17-2 lead in the first 6 minutes. Even in the Tigers’ lone win against Waldorf, they trailed by 12 points in the first 7 minutes.

“That's something we've been talking about,” said Iowa Wesleyan head coach Alex Huisman. “We've had a few different lineups and have tried to find the guys that can provide that spark.”

Since that come-from-behind win against Waldorf to start the season, the Tigers are 0-5. Huisman says his team has to find a way to get an early edge in the future.

“It's game day. I shouldn't have to get you up for game day,” Huisman said. “It's about finding those guys who can be our spark.”

Despite the loss, the Tiger backcourt of Joey Brown and Jett Tjaden were able to get their points against the Clarke defense. Brown finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Tjaden scored 18 as well, 14 of which came in the second half.

Dylan Hurley scored 7 points for the Tigers. Alex Dentlinger finished with 6. Francis Okwuosah and Victor Munoz finished with 4 apiece. Jaylen Washington and Marvin Bateman scored 3 apiece. Kolby Williams had 2, and Michael Alexander ended with 1.

Iowa Wesleyan will take a 1-5 record into Saturday’s road game at Hannibal-LaGrange University. Huisman hopes his young squad can use this current cold streak and turn it into something positive.

“Obviously, they’re bummed,” Huisman said. “None of them like losing, but it's using that as motivation to get better the next day.”