Fourteen in Scoring Column as Statesmen Pound Avila
Brandon Trotter scored nine points in Thursday’s victory
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team returned to the winning trail Thursday with a dominating 92-54 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Avila.
#2 WPU (19-3, 15-3 Heart) hit 47.0% of its shots, but was even better on the defensive end by limiting the Eagles (3-20, 3-16 Heart) to just 25.8% from the floor. The win, which is the program’s largest in league play this year, keeps the navy and gold a half game up on Grand View in the Heart standings.
The hosts led 9-3 early, but AU rallied to knot the contest at 12-12 midway through the first half. William Penn then ran off seven in a row and eventually built the lead to 39-23 at intermission.
The Statesmen, who also posted a 56-36 rebounding edge, opened the second stanza on a 16-2 run and cruised to the easy win. The victors took advantage of a 17-9 offensive margin to outscore the visitors 19-2 in second-chance points. WPU also knocked down 11 three-pointers and blocked eight shots in the win.
The home squad played extremely well, despite being without its top two scorers Torren Jones (Sr., Chandler, Ariz., Sociology) and Jarvis Haywood (Sr., Charlotte, N.C., Business Management), who were not in action (coach’s decision).
All 14 Statesmen who saw the court recorded at least one point, highlighted by Lionel Ellison (Sr., New Orleans, La., Kinesiology) and Rufus Williams (Sr., Tuscaloosa, Ala., Physical Education) with 11 points each. Ellison, who hit three three-pointers, also dished out six assists, while Williams pulled down nine rebounds.
Kenneth Schell (So., Buena Vista, Colo., Psychology) joined double figures as well with 10 points. Brandon Trotter (Jr., Louisville, Ky., Kinesiology) was next with nine points, while the trio of Jeremy Postell (Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Sociology), Corbin Medley (Jr., Rogersville, Mo., General Accounting), and Dashawn Benson (Jr., Uniondale, N.Y., Sociology) all finished with eight. Benson was strong in all aspects, also corralling nine rebounds and assisting five times.
Elijah Williams (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) added seven points, and Charles Knowles (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) and Kordario Fleming (Sr., Memphis, Tenn., Physical Education) both produced six-point efforts.
Kevin Smith (Sr., Baltimore, Md., Physical Education) was effective on the defensive end with three steals.
“This was a great team win,” Head Coach John Henry said. “Everybody played well and contributed tonight.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Springfield, Mo. Saturday to face Evangel in Heart action at 2 p.m.
