Madison Scores 27 in 76-69 Win Over Mount Mercy
William Penn University Athletics
Cedar Rapids–Kelly Madison (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) went off for another huge game as the Statesmen men’s basketball team clipped Mount Mercy 76-69 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Saturday.
Madison, who scored 27 points (10-for-19 FG), helped WPU (17-9, 7-3 MCC) to its third-straight win and a regular-season sweep of the Mustangs (11-17, 3-7 MCC). It is the junior’s eighth 20-point game of the campaign and third in the last four games.
The visitors went up 16-10 early, but Mount Mercy roared back to lead by as much as nine and eventually held a 40-36 halftime margin. The hosts took advantage of abysmal Statesmen free-throw shooting. William Penn was just 10-for-26 overall, including missing all seven first-period attempts.
The contest, which featured eight ties and 14 lead changes, went back and forth after the break. WPU finally took the lead for good at 69-67 (3:09 mark) on a layup by Madison. Logan Alexander (So., Eddyville, Iowa, Undecided) extended the lead with a three-pointer and free throw to make it 73-67 with 1:13 on the clock. The navy and gold defense then closed it out with two stops in the final three MMU possessions to secure the victory.
“Logan’s three-pointer was clutch,” Head Coach John Henry said. “The game was in doubt up until he hit it. Kelly carried us up to that point and we are happy to escape with a win today.”
William Penn outshot Mount Mercy 44.4%-40.3%, including a 10-for-23 perimeter effort (43.5%).
Two of the best rebounding programs in NAIA Division II (WPU is #1, MMU is #4), the Statesmen held a 45-38 edge on the glass. Erik McGee (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) guided the victors with 14 caroms in addition to seven points and four blocked shots. Madison added eight rebounds on top of four assists.
Even though the Statesmen had more overall rebounds and six more offensive boards (19-13), it was the Mustangs who fared better with their second chances (18-13).
Both sides committed 12 turnovers, but WPU made more out of it with a 16-9 advantage in points off mistakes.
Alec Schwab (Jr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) joined Madison in double digits with 19, while Roberts Baltruns (So., Riga, Latvia, Business Management) just missed the mark with nine. Tyler Stahle (So., Bountiful, Utah, Business Management) put six points on the board and Blake Walker (Sr., Rose Garden, Physical Education) tied Madison with four assists.
Next: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Wednesday to host Viterbo in MCC action at 7:30 p.m.
