LAMONI — The William Penn men’s basketball team completed a season sweep of No. 21 Graceland Wednesday, earning a 77-73 road victory in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Game of the Week.
The Yellowjackets marked the Statesmen’s only ranked opponent this season, and William Penn made the most of both opportunities.
The Statesmen (17-5, 11-3 Heart) jumped out to an early 8-3 advantage before Graceland (18-4, 12-2 Heart) settled in and seized momentum. The Yellowjackets pushed their lead to 29-21 with 7:43 remaining in the first half, but William Penn answered with a seven-point run to pull back within striking distance. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Graceland carrying a 38-33 lead into the break.
William Penn shot 40 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from three-point range in the opening half, while Graceland connected at a 33.3 percent clip overall and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. Chase Page (Sr., Melbourne, Australia, Business Management) led the Statesmen with 14 first-half points.
The second half opened with back-and-forth play before Graceland extended its advantage to 59-50. William Penn responded with a decisive 16-5 surge, reclaiming the lead at 66-64 and shifting control of the contest. The Statesmen later built a 74-67 cushion, and Page sealed the victory with a clutch layup followed by a key defensive block in the closing moments.
For the game, William Penn shot 46.4 percent from the floor and 27.3 percent from long range. Graceland was held to 31.9 percent shooting, though the Yellowjackets converted 39.3 percent of their three-point attempts.
Page led all scorers with a game-high 27 points. Foday Sheriff (Jr., Upper Darby, Pa., Business Management) recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Malik Larane (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sports Management) added 15 points.
The Statesmen controlled the glass with a 46-37 rebounding advantage, but Graceland collected a 14-10 edge in offensive rebounds and outscored William Penn 15-10 in second-chance points. Turnovers proved challenging for the Statesmen, as Graceland capitalized on a 15-5 margin in miscues, resulting in a 21-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
“This will forever be known as the Chase Page game,” said Head Coach John Henry. “Chase was a warrior in all aspects of this game. He was unbelievable.”
