Hot Streak Continues For Blue Jays With 56-47 Win Over Tigers

The Westminster Blue Jays extend their winning streak to six games after defeating the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers, 56-47, Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Jays continue to hold down fourth place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) with an 11-4 record. They are 14-8 overall.

The Blue Jays came into the game and grabbed the 8-2 lead, but the Tigers followed with their own 8-2 run to tie the game at 10-10. The Tigers took the lead, but a three-pointer by sophomore Jay Zalis took it back, 13-12, with 10 minutes to go in the first. Zalis hit the next two three-pointers to take a 5 point lead, 19-14.

The Tigers brought the game within two points, but the Blue Jays blasted a 7-2 run to head into halftime up 29-21. Zalis lit up the three-point line, going 4-for-4 in the first half and scoring 12 points for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays came into the second half with a slow start, but with 11:11 remaining in the game, they pulled a 13 point lead, 40-27. A three-pointer by junior Verdis Lee Jr. bumped the lead to 48-34 with 6:50 left of play, but the Tigers answered back with a 12-2 run over the next three minutes.

A fast break layup by junior Brandon Moore, with the assist from senior Jordan Jones, put the Blue Jays up 52-46 with 2:14 remaining. The Blue Jays held Iowa Wesleyan from scoring in the final minute, grabbing their sixth straight victory with the 56-47 win.

The Blue Jays shot 33.3 percent from the three-point line and 38.2 percent from the field. Moore led the game with 14 points. Lee Jr. pulled down 8 rebounds and sophomore Kellen Brondel grabbed seven. Jones finished the night with four assists and added 8 points to the win.

The Blue Jays travel to Jacksonville, Ill. on Saturday, February 15, for their last conference road game. Tip-off with MacMurray is at 3:00 p.m.