Statesmen Bring the Title Back to Trueblood Avenue
Lamoni, Iowa–The William Penn University men’s basketball team captured the 2025-26 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Monday night, outlasting Graceland University 95-90 in an overtime thriller.
The second-seeded Statesmen improve to 25-6 overall and remain perfect against the Yellowjackets this season at 3-0. With the conference crown secured, the Navy and Gold now turn their attention to the NAIA National Championship, with the selection show set for Thursday at 6 p.m.
William Penn weathered an early storm as Graceland raced out to an 18-2 advantage. The Statesmen answered with a 7-2 push to steady themselves before delivering an 11-0 run at the 7:29 mark of the first half to trim the deficit to 34-27. Despite continuing to chip away, WPU entered the locker room trailing 46-39.
The Statesmen shot 42.4% from the floor in the opening half and 33.3% from three-point range, while Graceland connected at a 53.6% clip overall and 50% from deep. Malik Larane (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sports Management) paced WPU with 12 first-half points and seven rebounds, while Alif Bass (Jr., Newark, N.J., Sports Management) added 12 of his own.
William Penn wasted little time in the second half, seizing its first lead at 49-48 just three minutes in. The contest became a back-and-forth battle, though Graceland built a 72-62 cushion midway through the period. Refusing to fold, the Statesmen responded with a 16-6 surge, capped by a Larane three-pointer to knot the score at 78-78.
The Yellowjackets regained a brief two-point edge at the line with 2:34 remaining, but Larane calmly sank two free throws with 38 seconds left to force overtime at 80-80.
In the second half, the Navy and Gold shot 37% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Graceland connected at 40% overall and 50% from three-point range, though it attempted just six shots from deep in the period.
Overtime belonged to the Statesmen. William Penn opened the extra session on an 8-2 run and never relinquished control. Graceland closed within 92-90 late, but the Statesmen locked in defensively and finished the night at the stripe to secure the 95-90 victory.
The overtime numbers told the story of the defensive stand. William Penn limited Graceland to just two field goals and zero three-pointers in the extra period while connecting on 60% of their own field-goal attempts and knocking down three critical free throws to close it out.
For the game, William Penn shot 41.5% from the floor and 38.5% from three-point range. Graceland finished at 43.5% overall and 40% from deep.
Larane led all scorers with 24 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Bass added 22 points, while Daivion Boleware (Jr., Jackson, Mich., Psychology) recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds for another double-double. Foday Sheriff (Jr., Upper Darby, Pa., Business Management) contributed 13 points, and Chase Page (Sr., Melbourne, Australia, Business Management) added 10.
The Statesmen dominated the glass with a 46-33 rebounding advantage, including a commanding 16-6 edge on the offensive boards that translated into an 11-2 margin in second-chance points. William Penn committed 12 turnovers that resulted in 17 Graceland points, while forcing nine turnovers and converting them into 15 points.
“We took Trueblood Avenue to the Graceland gym,” said ead Coach John Henry. “Our team is physically and mentally very tough, and our team is the champions of the Heart of America conference, with no argument!”
Malik Larane summed up the feeling moments after the win.
“Amazing, you know, all the work you put in that started from October, you know, turf, mile,” Larane said.
“It’s all big family, man. All the work we put in is just, it’s a lot, man. It’s a special moment for sure.”
Javion Belle-McCrary pointed to the team’s response after falling behind early.
“We came down early, early. It was down by 18 maybe, but I mean, it’s a part of us,” Belle-McCrary said. “I feel like how Coach Henry, how we practice, our practices are way tougher than the game. We’re a tough team. So, I mean, if we get down, we don’t get discouraged. We just try to fight our way back into the game. When we get the game into single digits, we know we got them. We’re going win the game. It’s just a testament to all the guys, coaches, and players that push each other every single day.”
He said their chemistry makes the difference.
“We pick with each other. We love each other. We just got a great bond. So, I mean, it’s just predicates on the court.”
Alif Bass kept it simple.
“We just stayed together full hard, no matter what,” Bass said. “We didn’t give up on each other, played as a team. And next man up mentality from everybody.”
Next Up: William Penn will learn its postseason destination during the NAIA National Championship Selection Show Thursday as the Statesmen continue their championship run.
