Statesmen Fail to Tie for League Lead in Heartbreaking 80-78 Loss
William Penn University Athletics
Davenport–The William Penn men’s basketball team can now only hope that it gets a chance to prove true the old adage of ‘third time is the charm’ after #22 St. Ambrose defeated the Statesmen 80-78 in Midwest Collegiate Conference action Thursday.
William Penn (12-11, 7-4 MCC), who had its four-game winning streak snapped, is now two games behind the 9-2 Fighting Bees (15-8 overall) and again tied with #25 Mount Mercy and Ashford for second place (seven games remaining).
The loss adds to a painful history of narrow MCC losses, but Thursday’s setback likely will hurt more than any other. The Statesmen’s four MCC losses have come by a total of ten points (one, one, six, and two points). The team fell 86-85 to St. Ambrose in December.
Following a pair of game-tying free throws by Blake Walker (So., Rose Garden, Campbell HS) with just 15 seconds left, the home team brought the ball up the court, but seemed out of sorts as the seconds dwindled.
Unfortunately for the visitors, defending MCC Player of the Year Mike Kennedy was the last Fighting Bee to hold the ball. Kennedy, with his back turned to the basket, quickly spun around and made a shot just in front of the three-point line with only a few seconds left. He finished with 20 points.
The Statesmen were unable to come up with an answer as time expired.
Despite flying out of the gate (19-10 lead just 6:56 into the game), William Penn was fortunate to even have a chance late as it trailed most of the evening. St. Ambrose led 50-37 at intermission and was still up by a dozen points near the midway point of the second stanza.
The visitors then began their rally, eventually going up by one with 1:58 left. It was just not to be as the Fighting Bees finished with a 46.8%-39.4% shooting advantage.
Most of the other categories were fairly even or went to the Statesmen, though, including a 46-36 rebounding edge that resulted in a 21-8 margin in second-chance points. The navy and gold were also 20-of-28 at the charity stripe (SAU was 15-of-25).
Taylor Stoutner (Jr., Keota, Keota HS) did most of his damage from the perimeter with all of his team’s six three-pointers. He was also 5-of-5 from the line for a game-best 25 points.
Arman Rasul (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Illinois-Chicago) was the most effective William Penn player, finishing 8-of-14 for 17 points, while Walker and Alan Douglas (Sr., Champaign, Ill., Lakeland CC) both had double-doubles.
Walker posted 13 points (9-of-12 FT) and 11 rebounds (fifth double-double of the year) and Douglas managed 11 points and ten rebounds (tenth of the year).
Walker, the team’s most complete player, recorded team highs in assists (6) and steals (4) as well.
Next: The Statesmen host Mount Mercy Saturday in MCC action at 3 p.m.
