William Penn 8-0 After Easy Win Over Wright State Lake
The William Penn Statesmen have run up an 8-0 record in the early season. Conference play begins at the end of November and should provide a real test for the #3 ranked team.
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s basketball team extended its home winning streak as it crushed Wright State Lake 134-69 in non-conference action Saturday.
#3 WPU (8-0) has now won 31 straight contests at home and 41 of its last 42 in the friendly confines of Penn Gymnasium. In fact, since the start of 2012-2013, the navy and gold are 82-7 at home, including three perfect campaigns (2012-2013, 2016-2017, and this year).
The Statesmen permitted the Lakers (1-6), who were playing the game as an exhibition, to score the first bucket of the afternoon, but the home squad rallied with the next nine points and was never threatened Saturday.
The advantage grew to 32 at 66-34 by halftime and the bench personnel closed the game on a 27-2 run.
The hosts outshot WSL 53.3%-33.7% and outrebounded the visitors 63-42. William Penn committed just nine turnovers, while forcing the Lakers into 19 mistakes.
Jovontae Carleton (Jr., El Cerrito, Calif., Sociology) paced all players with 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting. The junior made two three-pointers and was also perfect at the free-throw line (7-for-7); WPU was outstanding at the charity stripe at 80.6%.
Five other players joined the double-digit club, including double-doubles from JC Washington (Sr., Houston, Texas, Sociology) and Dominique Shaw (Sr., Lufkin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation). Washington tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds in addition to three blocks; he was also one of five individuals with two steals. Shaw managed 14 points and 11 boards.
Brandon Trotter (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Kinesiology) missed just two of his nine field-goal attempts en route to 16 points, while Terrell Thompson (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) also tallied 16.
Corbin Medley (Sr., Rogersville, Mo., General Accounting) knocked down four three-pointers as part of a 14-point effort.
Mikeal Donaldson (Sr., Columbia, S.C.) just missed double figures with nine points, while Isaac Sanders (So., Lexington, Mo., Industrial Technology) contributed eight points. The trio of Darius Wheeler (Jr., Jonesboro, Ga., Sports Administration), Marquis Todd (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Wellness and Recreation), and Tyler Wood (So., Newton, Iowa, Education) all finished with six points in the win. Wheeler dished out seven assists, while the Statesmen distributed the ball well, assisting on 33 of their 48 field goals.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Aberdeen, S.D. next Friday to face Oak Hills Christian (Minn.) at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Isreal-Strong Memorial Classic hosted by Presentation.
