Statesmen Out of Runner-Up Slot with Clarke Loss

William Penn University Athletics

Dubuque–Five players reached double digits, but a poor second half prevented the William Penn men’s basketball squad from keeping pace in the Midwest Collegiate Conference race Saturday.

The Statesmen (15-13, 10-6 MCC) lost to Clarke 87-75 and fell out of a tie for second place. The setback also kept the program, at least for now, from securing a first-round home game in the MCC Tournament. A win in one of the final two games will do that, while two wins (depending on tiebreakers) may still give the navy and gold the #2 seed.

The teams were tied at 47 after 20 minutes of action, but a 50.0%-28.6% edge in post-intermission shooting gives the Crusaders (18-9, 9-7 MCC, 4th) a strong probability to also host a first-round matchup.

William Penn took its final lead at 49-48 on a bucket by Keith Steffeck (Jr., Marion, Marion HS). Clarke scored the next seven points and the Statesmen never drew closer than four points again.

The hosts owned a 52.2%-38.8% edge in overall shooting.

Austin Emerson (Jr., Des Moines, Southwestern CC) tallied 15 points in the first half, but was quieted to just two in the second period in leading the Statesmen with 17 points. He also corralled a team-high seven rebounds, but William Penn was outrebounded 46-35 (17-13 edge in second-chance points for CU).

Blake Walker (So., Rose Garden, Ga., Campbell HS) and Arman Rasul (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Illinois-Chicago) both posted 13 points, while Taylor Stoutner (Jr., Keota, Keota HS) had 12 and Steffeck contributed 11.

Walker assisted on six baskets and guided the navy and gold with four steals. Steffeck blocked three shots.

The Statesmen won the turnover category 14-16.

Next: The Statesmen host AIB next Wednesday in their final home game of the year. The MCC contest begins at 7:30 p.m.