Statesmen Crush Finlandia for Year’s First ‘W’
This Statesmen heads in for the high-percentage shot on Saturday as Penn claims it’s first ‘W’ of the season.
Oskaloosa–Behind a double-double debut by Marc Wilson (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), the William Penn men’s basketball team earned its first victory of the year by defeating Finlandia (Mich.) 106-62 in non-conference action Saturday.
The Statesmen (1-4), led by Wilson’s 20-point, ten-rebound showing (both team highs), shot 49.4% from the field and limited the Lions (0-2) to a 35.7% clip.
Finlandia scored the day’s first point, but it was all WPU from there. Ahead 20-14 at the midway point of the first period, the navy and gold went on a 10-2 run and eventually led 52-31 at halftime. All 12 Statesmen who saw the floor scored as the advantage grew to as much as 46 points late in the game.
The balanced attack only saw the home team produce three players in double figures. Alec Schwab (Jr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) finished with 18 points (four three-pointers) and Kevin Fay (Sr., Hennepin, Ill., Education) added 12 in the win.
Blake Walker (Sr., Rose Garden, Physical Education) just missed the mark with nine points in addition to seven assists.
Four players–Roberts Baltruns (So., Riga, Latvia, Business Management), Logan Alexander (So., Eddyville, Iowa, Undecided), Mike Aldeman (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Education), and Jesse Utt (Fr., Cowgill, Mo., Industrial Technology)–all contributed seven points. Aldeman also stole a game-high four passes (WPU had 12 steals).
Vonzell Groom (Jr., Baltimore, Md., Physical Education) and Tyler Stahle (So., Bountiful, Utah, Business Management) scored six points each, while Kelly Madison (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) tallied five points with six assists.
William Penn shot a season-best 69.6% from the line (16-for-23) and nearly doubled up the Lions on the boards, 53-27, which led to a 23-13 margin in second-chance points.
Nineteen FU turnovers were converted into 30 Statesmen points as well.
“It was good to have Marc in the lineup after missing the first four games due to a decision by the coaches,” Head Coach John Henry said. “I thought all of our point guards–Blake, Mike, and Vonzell– played well, seeing the floor and distributing the ball. We needed this win badly; hopefully it will get us going.”
Next: William Penn remains at home Monday to face #19 Bellevue (Neb.) in non-conference play at 7 p.m.
