Free Throws Not Enough in Loss to Yellowjackets
William Penn University Athletics
Lamoni–The William Penn men’s basketball team spent much of the night at the charity stripe and had great success there, but cold shooting and turnovers led to an 84-78 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss to Graceland Wednesday.
On a night where they nearly broke the school record for made free tries with 38 (record is 39), the Statesmen (21-6, 14-5 Heart) fell out of first place in the league standings for the first time all season. With three games to play, they will need help to catch MidAmerica Nazarene (15-4) and claim the Heart crown in their inaugural season.
WPU was frigid from the floor, being outshot 42.1%-32.7%, but executed at the line to the tune of an 84.4% clip (38-for-45). Two other statistical categories–rebounds (48-32 for WPU) and turnovers (17-7 against WPU)–knocked heads as the visitors failed to finish the season sweep. The squad’s 18-12 edge on the offensive glass only netted a 14-9 margin in second-chance points, while its extra mistakes gave Graceland a 23-8 mark in points off turnovers.
GU (16-11, 11-8 Heart), eager to avenge last month’s 92-47 loss in Oskaloosa, opened with the game’s first 10 points and never trailed in the outing. William Penn could not slow down the Yellowjackets in the initial 20 minutes as they pulled out to a 49-35 halftime lead.
The Statesmen produced a few solid runs after intermission, including drawing to within five at 56-51 with 11:14 to go. Unfortunately, for each of their runs, Graceland had an answer. In a tightly-officiated game that included 59 fouls, WPU was able to stay close as the home squad finished just 23-for-40 at the stripe. GU’s 13 three-pointers were too much to overcome though.
Four of William Penn’s starters reached double figures with Jarvis Haywood (Jr., Charlotte, N.C., Business Management) blazing the trail with 18 points (four three-pointers).
Steven Roundtree (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla., Physical Education) posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Brady Burford (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) managed 15 points (two blocks) and Kevin Smith (Jr., Baltimore, Md., Physical Education) had 13 with two steals.
Dondre Alexander (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Physical Education) struggled from the field (1-for-10), but still concluded the matchup with eight points in addition to three assists. Shane Bosek (Sr., Lowry, Minn., Physical Education) also contributed six points off the bench.
Six of the seven Statesmen who attempted a free throw Wednesday owned a clip of at least 71%.
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to host Benedictine (Kan.) in Heart play at 4 p.m.
