MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa. – The Spalding University men's basketball team suffered its first loss of 2015, falling 60-51 Thursday night at Iowa Wesleyan. The loss dropped them to 14-6 overall and 11-2 against SLIAC competition. Iowa Wesleyan is now 8-9 overall, 4-7 in conference.

Spalding was led in scoring by Brandon Gabriel and Chris Leon, who scored nine points apiece. Leon was 4-of-5 from the field for the Eagles, who shot just 34 percent from the floor as a team in suffering defeat for the first time in nine games.

The Golden Eagle offense came out flat, falling behind early and never really gained any footing during the first half. Brandon Goeing connected on a three-pointer to open scoring, but a 13-2 Tiger run followed to put Spalding behind by eight points midway through the first half. They fell behind by double digits for the first time with eight minutes left until halftime at 17-7. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, and a layup by Javonte Lavender made it an eight point game going into break, at 24-16.

The Tigers opened the second half on a 13-4 run to take a 37-20 lead with 15 minutes left to play. Spalding countered with a 12-3 spurt to cut the IWC lead back to single digits at 40-32, but could get no closer.

The Golden Eagles cap off their road trip Saturday, January 31 versus Fontbonne University at 4:00 p.m. EST.