The Westminster men's basketball team dropped to Iowa Wesleyan College on Wednesday night, 72-60. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 1-6 in conference play and 2-12 overall.
The Iowa Wesleyan Tigers took a 4-2 lead, but freshman Tanner Cochran tied the game at 4-4. Junior Matt Murphy hit three buckets to take the 10-6 lead, and senior Brandon Moore scored five to take a 15-8 lead.
Iowa Wesleyan took the 19-18 lead with 10:32 on the clock, but senior Verdis Lee Jr. hit a three-pointer to take back the lead. The lead changed possession three more times until the Tigers hit a 9-0 run. The Blue Jays headed into halftime trailing by eight, 35-27.
The Tigers brought their lead to double digits at the start of the second half, but junior Tanner Gentges hit a shot to put the Blue Jays within nine and Cochran scored two to put the Blue Jays within seven, 42-35.
The Tigers pulled back their lead, but baskets by junior Aaron Jackson Jr., junior Kellen Brondel and Moore put the Blue Jays within four with 7:23 left in the game. The Blue Jays held the game within five points until the Tigers hit an 8-2 run.
Lee Jr. put the game back within seven with three minutes remaining, but the Tigers followed with a three to take a 10 point lead. The Blue Jays were held to just one point in the final minutes, falling 72-60.
Lee Jr. led the Blue Jays with 18 points and six rebounds. Cochran also recorded six boards.
The Blue Jays will host Spalding University, the number one seed in the SLIAC with an 7-1 record, on Saturday, January 17, at 3:00 p.m. Live statistics and video can be found here.
