Penn Takes Down Newly-Revived Roosevelt Program 92-81
William Penn University Athletics
Chicago, Ill.–The Statesmen basketball team started a three-day, three-game road trip in Chicago by defeating Roosevelt 92-81 in non-conference play Thursday.
Penn (4-2) defeated the Lakers (1-4), who are one of the newest members of the NAIA and who reinstated an athletics programs that had been dormant since the fall of 1989 (basketball was last played in 1988-89). Roosevelt will compete in NAIA Division I in basketball within the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The visitors shot 51.4% in the first stanza to pull out to a 51-36 halftime lead. The advantage nearly doubled to that of a 27-point margin with 14:27 remaining courtesy of a 16-4 run.
Unfortunately, Roosevelt did not fold up shop, scoring 26 of the next 34 points to get within single digits at 75-66 with 6:23 still left in regulation.
The Statesmen regrouped and kept the Lakers at a comfortable distance the rest of the game, only narrowing the deficit to eight inside two minutes of play.
Penn iced the game from there, however, making five of its last six free throws to take the victory. The Statesmen were 21-of-28 at the charity stripe and outshot Roosevelt 47.2%-45.5%.
The road squad overcame 23 turnovers (Roosevelt had 22), outscoring its host 26-19 in points off mistakes. Penn also held a 21-15 advantage in second-chance points with a dominating 51-32 mark on the glass.
Huzie Hambrite (Jr., Indianapolis, Ind., Ball State) led the Statesmen with 22 points (8-of-18 FG, 6-of-6 FT), while Alan Douglas (Jr., Champaign, Ill., Lakeland CC) was next with 15 points. Hambrite also dished out four assists and led all participants with four steals.
Three others met the double-digit mark, including Ryan Wilson (Sr., Ballwin, Mo., Missouri-Kansas City), who finished with his fourth double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Blake Walker (Fr., Smyrna, Ga., Campbell HS) and Wiebe Goodyk (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa Central CC) added 11 points each. Walker tied a contest high with two blocks in addition to seven boards.
Deon Bergeron (Sr., Lake Charles, La., Grand Lake HS), with seven points, and Adam Hodge (Jr., South Elgin, Ill., Rock Valley CC), with six points, were solid contributors as well.
Ross Howe (Fr., State Center, West Marshall HS) corralled nine rebounds.
Next: Penn stays in Chicago to compete in the Moody Bible Tournament Friday and Saturday.
Wade Steinlage
