Statesmen End Losing Streak by Handling Clarke
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Entering Wednesday night with waning confidence, the William Penn men’s basketball team received a big shot in the arm with a 94-54 win over Clarke in Midwest Collegiate Conference action.
The Statesmen (13-9, 2-4 MCC), who broke their three-game losing streak, will enter the second half of the league season just two games from second place in a jam-packed MCC. Besides undefeated #14 Mount Mercy, every team has at least two setbacks and Wednesday’s foe Clarke is still winless (6-15, 0-6 MCC).
The navy and gold had its best shooting night in nearly two months, holding a 57.1%-30.9% edge over the Crusaders. WPU scored the first seven points and pulled ahead by as much as 16 before settling for a 44-33 halftime advantage.
Nearly everything then fell into place in the second stanza with the Statesmen shooting 59.4% and limiting the visitors to just 22.9% from the floor.
After being held to seven first-half points, Alec Schwab (Sr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) caught fire to pace all participants with 25 points, including five three-pointers. The victors hit 48.6% from behind the arc (17-for-35).
Shane Bosek (Jr., Lowry, Minn., Physical Education) was excellent from inside and outside, going 10-for-12 for 24 points. Nick Jeffries (Fr., Altoona, Iowa, Exercise Science), with 11 points, and Oliver Wells (Sr., Cedar Hill, Texas, Business Management), with ten, also reached double figures. Wells assisted eight times and also had two steals.
Jake Guenther (Jr., Altoona, Iowa) and Davion Scott (Jr., St. Louis, Mo., Secondary Education) managed eight points apiece, while Erik McGee (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) notched ten rebounds. Behind McGee, WPU posted a 40-36 rebounding margin. Guenther finished with three blocks as well.
In a matchup that featured only 14 combined free throws (WPU was 5-for-7), the Statesmen turned 13 Clarke turnovers into 21 points.
Next Up: William Penn travels to La Crosse, Wis. Saturday to face Viterbo in MCC action at 3 p.m.
