Oskaloosa–It was a three-man show for the Statesmen men’s basketball team as it pushed its winning streak to a dozen with a 92-76 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over #13 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.).

With its win and losses to Graceland and Culver-Stockton, #6 WPU (12-1, 5-0 Heart) now owns a full two-game lead entering the second half of the league slate.

Both sides shot 43.5%, but a dominant 51-34 rebounding edge helped the victors to seven more shots; an 18-8 advantage on the offensive glass led to a 14-9 mark in second-chance points.  The navy and gold won the three-point (9-5) and free-throw (23-17) categories as well.

After the teams exchanged one bucket each in the opening minute, the Pioneers (8-3, 3-2 Heart) took control to lead 25-14 midway through the first half.  A 14-3 WPU run tied the game, but MNU answered right back to make it 40-32 with only 1:13 left until halftime.  Fortunately, back-to-back three-pointers in the final seconds by Jessie Pernell (Sr., North Augusta, Ga., Physical Education) and Dondre Alexander (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Physical Education) helped get the home team within one entering the locker rooms at 40-39.

Neither side could force much separation (biggest lead was five by MNU) early in the second session as the game was tied for the seventh and final time at 55-55 with 12:48 to go.  The Statesmen then showed what so many have seen over the last 12 contests by producing a 19-5 run and rolling to the victory.

Pernell and Alexander each made nine field goals and combined for WPU’s nine trifectas as both players posted 29 points.  Alexander also assisted four times and blocked two shots, while he and Pernell joined Steven Roundtree (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla., Physical Education) with two steals.

Brady Burford (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) was the most efficient Statesmen on the court, though, going 10-for-13 from the field for 25 points.  He also pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Roundtree added six points, while Jeff Drew (Sr., Little Rock, Ark., Sociology) was William Penn’s best bench player; he did not score any points but did tally eight rebounds.

“This was the perfect way to finish the first half of our season,” Head Coach John Henry said.  “Our rebounding effort was amazing to watch and, in my opinion, wore out our opponents.”

Next Up: William Penn is off nearly a month, traveling to Canton, Mo. on January 6 to face Culver-Stockton in Heart action at 7:30 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage