Statesmen Unload from Deep in 94-79 Win Over Grand View
William Penn University Athletics
Des Moines–The William Penn men’s basketball team rode hot perimeter shooting to defeat rival Grand View 94-79 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Wednesday.
The Statesmen (14-7, 4-2 MCC) were 16-for-38 from behind the arc, leading wire-to-wire against the Vikings (13-8, 2-4 MCC). For a program that loves to shoot the long ball, the 16 makes are surprisingly the most in a regular-season MCC contest since WPU hit 18 against AIB on February 15, 2012.
The visitors hit only six of their 17 long tries in the first half, but found plenty of other ways to get the ball in the hoop en route to a 44-27 halftime lead. William Penn outshot the home team 48.6%-34.3% at halftime.
The second stanza was even better for the visitors as they made ten more trifectas to lead by as much as 22 points at the midway point. Unfortunately, the Vikings, who held a 54.1%-50.0% shooting edge in the second period, had some fight in them, narrowing the margin to seven with 3:37 remaining.
William Penn had the last say, though, recording nine in a row to seal the deal. As impressive as their offensive perimeter display was, the Statesmen three-point defense was equally awe-inspiring as GVU made only one of its 21 tries. Over the last two games, WPU’s opponents are just 2-for-45.
Highlighted by five three-pointers, Alec Schwab (Jr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) matched last week’s season high with 28 points.
Kelly Madison (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) was next on the scoring chart with 18 points, while Roberts Baltruns (So., Riga, Latvia, Business Management) matched Schwab with five deep balls to finish with 15 points.
Tyler Stahle (So., Bountiful, Utah, Business Management), with 13 points, and Marc Wilson (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Physical Education), with ten, met double figures as well.
Contributing the best way they know how, Blake Walker (Sr., Rose Garden, Physical Education) was tremendous in distributing the ball with 14 assists, while Erik McGee (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) was all over the glass for a game-best 12 rebounds. The Statesmen owned a 43-32 rebounding edge over the Vikings.
Turnovers were the only thing that plagued WPU as it committed 13 giveaways, which were converted into 18 GVU points.
“We got out to a good start tonight,” Head Coach John Henry said. “Our three-point shooting was key to this nice road win.”
Next: William Penn travels to Davenport Saturday to face St. Ambrose in MCC action at 3 p.m.
