Statesmen Complete Title Sweep by Upending Top-Seeded MNU
William Penn Mens Basketball celebrates winning the conference tournament. (submitted image)
Olathe, Kan.–With a celebration similar to one that will be seen two weeks from now in Kansas City, there was no doubt that Monday’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament Finals was for more than just bragging rights for the William Penn men’s basketball team as it took down MidAmerica Nazarene 83-67.
The third-seeded Statesmen (27-6), who shared the regular season crown with the top-seeded Pioneers (and Peru State), had already locked up a bid to nationals, but wanted to go in on a high note. Winning a game that it led nearly the entire way in a gym where it lost by double digits over a month ago should qualify as ‘going in on a high note’.
The tournament crown is the program’s fifth since joining the NAIA. MNU (25-8) scored the first four points of the game, but William Penn answered with seven of the next nine points and never trailed again. Up 9-8, the navy and gold then put the hosts on their heels with an unbelievable 17 straight points. WPU remained up by double digits for the rest of the contest, including holding a 44-28 edge at halftime.
Jessie Pernell (Sr., North Augusta, S.C., Physical Education) was the guiding light in the first 20 minutes with four three-pointers as part of a 16-point half; the senior finished with a game-high 26 points.
MidAmerica Nazarene attempted to make in interesting in the latter stanza, closing to within 11 at 62-51 with 11:31 on the clock. Fortunately, William Penn put it on ice with a 12-2 run to complete the regular season and tournament sweep in its first campaign in the Heart.
Pernell, who was 10-for-18 from the field (6-for-9 3-PT), also managed nine assists, six steals, and five rebounds. Equally impressive was the fact that he did not commit a turnover in the victory.
The Statesmen were outshot 45.0%-43.8%, but a 43-32 rebounding edge (17-9 offensive) gave the visitors 13 extra chances. They turned that into a 15-7 mark in second-chances points. WPU also struck nine times (47.4%) from behind the arc, while limiting MNU to a 3-for-15 effort.
William Penn had 17 turnovers, but forced the Pioneers into five more mistakes.
Brady Burford (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) joined Pernell with 20-plus points–21 to be exact. Jarvis Haywood (Jr., Charlotte, N.C., Business Management) was also in double figures with 11 points.
Steven Roundtree (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla., Physical Education) did not have a typical showing with just seven points on 2-for-10 shooting, but paced the navy and gold with 11 rebounds. Kevin Smith (Jr., Baltimore, Md., Physical Education) also contributed seven points off the bench.
“Jessie Pernell’s performance was one of the best at William Penn in the last 15 years,” Head Coach John Henry said. “We have really come together as a group the past three weeks. I am so proud of the team we are now. It took six months, but we are a true team.”
“Winning both the regular season and tournament titles in our first year in the Heart is quite an accomplishment and is really difficult to do,” Henry added.
The Statesmen will learn of their first-round opponent when the NAIA announces the brackets for the Division I National Championships on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
