Tiger men win first game

MONMOUTH, Ill. - The Iowa Wesleyan men's basketball team overcame an 11-point deficit to take down Monmouth College on Saturday. The Tigers took advantage of 12 steals and 21 points off turnovers to edge out the Fighting Scots by a score of 84-81.

Monmouth opened the game with a 5-0 lead in the first minute of action, but the Tigers answered with a jumper by Austin Rebel and a three pointer by Avree Clark to tie it up early. The teams traded baskets and the lead until the 13:03 minute mark when the Fighting Scots went back in front with a layup that started a 9-0 run. Clark ended the run by sinking a three pointer for Iowa Wesleyan, bringing the score to 17-22 with 11:20 remaining in the opening half.

As the half continued, the Tigers were able to cut the Fighting Scot lead to three points after a pair of free throws by Brian Patterson and Alberto Torres. Monmouth would extend their lead back to 9 with just under six and a half minutes left in the first half. They would hit a three pointer with 4:46 to build an 11 point lead over the Tigers. Iowa Wesleyan did not give up, and with three minutes remaining, Rebel made a jumper and Austin Banks came up with a steal and a layup to cut the deficit to five. IW scored the final points of the half and only trailed by three at the break after layups by Jake Neubauer and Rebel.

Jarryd Fernandes came up with a steal and made a layup for the first points of the second period. The Fighting Scots followed with back to back baskets to regain a five point lead with 18:38 on the clock. They had built a nine point advantage with just under seventeen minutes remaining, but Avree Clark knocked down a three pointer to bring IW back within six. Back to back three pointers by Jake Neubauer and Clark brought the score to 56-58 with 13:57 left to play.

The Fighting Scots continued to hold a slight lead, but Torres hit a three pointer for Iowa Wesleyan to tie the game up at 61-61. Monmouth went back in front and extended their lead to seven points with 9:46 remaining. Rebel hit a jumper to tie the game back up, but once again Monmouth had the answer and led 74-69 with just over four-and-a-half minutes to go. Clark answered with a three pointer for Iowa Wesleyan. The Tigers were finally able to take the lead with 1:50 on the clock after a layup by Fernandes. Neubauer came up with a steal for the Tigers and made a layup to put IW ahead by three, but Monmouth was able to get a three off and tie the game back up. The Fighting Scots took a two point lead after a pair of free throws with 32 seconds left. Iowa Wesleyan called a timeout, and Clark once again hit a three pointer, giving the Tigers an 82-81 advantage. Rebel sank a pair of free throws with three seconds left, securing the 84-81 win.

Rebel picked up his second double-double of the season after finishing with 27 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Rebel was 10-16 from the field and 7-11 from the free throw line. Avree Clark recorded 24 points with the help of six three pointers.