WPU Upended in Top-10 Matchup

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Fayette, Mo.–A banged-up Statesmen men’s basketball team that had little to play for ran out of gas down the stretch Saturday as it fell 80-76 to #7 Central Methodist in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

#3 William Penn (26-3, 16-3 Heart) will now wait for the results of Monday’s play-in round to find out which squad it will face in Wednesday’s quarterfinals (7 p.m. tipoff). The eighth-highest squad after the teams are reseeded will head to Oskaloosa.

Having already secured the top seed in the league tournament, WPU may have been struggling for motivation against the Eagles (26-4, 15-4 Heart), but it did not show early. After the sides jabbed at each other for seven-plus minutes to the tune of a 10-10 tie, the visitors broke free with a 13-3 run. William Penn eventually pulled out to a 40-22 edge before settling on a 45-33 halftime margin.

The Statesmen, who were without a pair of key players, remained in control, ahead 66-57 at the 9:40 mark, but CMU chipped away and made it a 67-66 game with 5:42 still left. William Penn was able to hold off the home squad for two more minutes, but finally relinquished the lead for good at 72-71 with 2:28 on the clock.

Central Methodist capped an 8-0 run with two free throws (then 76-71 in favor of CMU) with 56 ticks remaining and held on for the win; the Eagles finished their regular-season home slate at a perfect 16-0.

William Penn was outshot 49.2%-45.9% and outrebounded 47-33; the Statesmen also struggled mightily at the line at 46.4% (13-for-28). One of the few bright spots came in the turnover department where WPU had 12, while forcing CMU into 17. The visitors converted those extra chances into an 18-6 mark in points off turnovers.

Aakim Saintil (Sr., West Orange, N.J., Business Management) guided his team with 16 points, while Terrell Thompson (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) was next with 14 points.

Dominique Shaw (Sr., Lufkin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) added 11 points, and D’Angelo Allen (Jr., Dallas, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) and Brandon Trotter (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Kinesiology) both eclipsed double figures as well with 10 points each.

Mikeal Donaldson (Sr., Columbia, S.C., Wellness and Recreation) just missed the mark with nine points.

“Honestly, you are not going to beat too many teams when you miss 15 free throws and are outrebounded by 14, especially not a team as good as Central Methodist,” Head Coach John Henry said. “They are #7 in the nation for a reason. They are legit and simply beat us tonight. We need to regroup and remember this feeling.”