A buzzer beater beats the Statesmen.  Julien Hunter’s basket as time ran out gave Indiana University-Kokomo a 93-92 upset over William Penn Saturday (3/12) in the round of 32 in the NAIA national men’s basketball tournament at Penn Gymnasium.  This came shortly after the Statesmen’s Kevion Blaylock had scored to put the Statesmen in front 92-21 with six seconds to play.  It was the only time the Statesmen were ahead in the second half as I-U-Kokomo held a nine point lead at halftime and were up by 16 three minutes into the second half.  The Statesmen cut that lead to one at 78-77 with 8:37 to play…then three minutes later, the Cougars pushed the lead back up to nine.  William Penn rallied again down the stretch and almost completed the comeback.  Statesmen Coach John Henry spoke after the game.

“You know, basketball is a fickle sport.  If that ball (Hunter’s shot) hits the front of the rim, my eyes aren’t bloodshot–except for my lack of sleep from last night.   I’ve got a bunch of crying guys in (the locker room) that are really hurting.  Like I said, if that kid’s shot hits the front of the rim and shoots down, everything is different.  And that’s what’s great and absolutely horrible about basketball.  It’s just the way it goes.  Hats off to IU-Kokomo.  They beat us.”

Kevion Blaylock and Karmari Newman both scored 23 points to lead William Penn.  Trequan Spivey had 24 for IU-Kokomo.  The Statesmen finish the season with a 31-2 record.

On Friday, William Penn won its opening game in the NAIA nationals, beating Bellevue, Nebraska, 83-72.