Schwab’s 43-Point Performance Leads WPU Past Clarke
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Alec Schwab (Jr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) posted one of the most prolific single-game performances in school history to pace the Statesmen men’s basketball team to a 100-81 victory over Clarke in Midwest Collegiate Conference action Saturday.
Schwab tallied 43 points, the fourth-highest tally ever, as William Penn (15-9, 5-3 MCC) went wire-to-wire to avenge its 88-68 loss at Dubuque on January 20.
The junior guard, who was 13-for-28 from the field, hit consecutive three-pointers on WPU’s first two possessions as the hosts went up 9-2 just 2:10 into the game. He made six of his first eight trifectas, while the first seven Statesmen field goals came from behind the arc.
William Penn blew out to a game-high 26-point advantage (40-14) at the 8:56 mark before settling for a 56-37 lead at halftime. At that juncture, Schwab was 9-for-16 (6-for-10 3-PT) for 25 points.
With WPU still up 60-41 early in the second half, the Crusaders (15-10, 6-3 MCC) made it interesting with ten straight points to get within nine at 60-51 and then again at 62-53 with 16:19 still on the clock. Fortunately, WPU was able to stop the bleeding by scoring six straight and never led by less than 13 again.
Schwab, who was 9-for-20 from the perimeter, was not part of that mini run, but was huge right after with the next ten Statesmen points. Clarke did not challenge in final ten minutes as the Statesmen reached the century mark for the sixth time this year.
William Penn stayed in the thick of the conference race (St. Ambrose leads at 7-2) despite being outshot 46.0%-40.5%. The home squad countered that with only seven turnovers, while forcing the Crusaders into 16 (25-8 edge in points off turnovers). The Statesmen also outrebounded their opponent 48-39, including 18-8 on the offensive end, which was good for a 15-10 margin in second-chance points.
With the game well in hand, the navy and gold tried to get Schwab to the top of the record books, but he came up just short on two major lists. In addition to being six points shy of the program mark of 49 (his tally was the most since 1991-1992), he was also one three-pointer shy of that record. He tied for second in three-point attempts, tied for third in field-goal attempts, was third in three-pointers made, and tied for tenth in field goals made. Schwab was also 8-for-9 at the charity stripe and had six rebounds and one steal in the win.
The junior had nearly half of his team’s 43 three-point tries and more than half of its 14 makes.
On most nights, Roberts Baltruns (So., Riga, Latvia, Business Management) would have been WPU’s leading scorer, but his 20 points (4-for-9 3-PT) were only good for second on the winning side.
Kelly Madison (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) and Tyler Stahle (So., Bountiful, Utah, Business Management) each tallied nine points, while Logan Alexander (So., Eddyville, Iowa, Undecided) added eight and three steals.
Blake Walker (Sr., Rose Garden, Physical Education) contributed seven points with ten assists, while Erik McGee (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) hauled in seven rebounds.
“Alec set the tone right away,” Head Coach John Henry said. “He was amazing all game and I thought Logan had a great game as well. Really, everyone played well and it was a big win for us.”
Next: William Penn travels to Des Moines next Wednesday to face AIB in MCC play at 7:30 p.m.
