WPU Drops First League Game

Baldwin City, Kan.--The Statesmen men's basketball team suffered its first Heart of America Conference loss of the season Wednesday, falling in overtime to Baker 96-93.

The loss, which ends WPU's 20-game win streak (dating back to November 26), moves the seventh-ranked Statesmen to 24-3 overall and 20-1 in the league.  The win streak ties the longest in program history; William Penn also won 20 in a row during the 2012-2013 and 2021-2022 seasons.

William Penn led the rebounding category 58-51 and was narrowly outshot 42.2%-41.5%.  Unfortunately, the visitors struggled from the free-throw line, making just six of their 16 tries for 37.5%, while Baker (21-6, 16-5 Heart) was 19-for-25 (76.0%).

The overtime matchup featured nine ties and 10 lead changes as the sides were even all night.  Most of the first half was tight, but the Statesmen went on 9-0 run, concluded by a three-pointer by Malik Edwards (Fr., Drexel Hill, Pa., Business Management), to make it 42-32, but the Wildcats went on a late run to dwindle the navy and gold lead to just three going into halftime at 44-41.

Back and forth being the story of the game, blows were traded all the way to the end of regulation as a pair of Wildcat free throws would tie it at 81-81. Daniel Autrey (Jr., Detroit, Mich., Business Management) had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but could not convert his three-point attempt.

In overtime, Baker took an early lead and was able to control most of the period.  The Statesmen clawed back to within one possession and Edwards had a chance to force a second extra session, but his trifecta went off-line.

Edwards led the way on the stat sheet with 26 points and seven rebounds. The sophomore was 10-for-26 from the field (6-for-14 3-PT).  He also paced the navy and gold with four steals.

Muneer Newton (Fr., Philadelphia, Pa., Business Management) and Eddie Daley (Grad., DeWitt, Mich., Master's of Organizational Leadership) managed to record the exact same stat lines, having 12 points and six rebounds.  Newton also blocked a team-high two shots.

Autrey provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, all from the perimeter, while DJ Purnell (So., Minneapolis, Minn., Business Management) chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.

Chanze Cruesoe (Jr., St. Louis, Mo., Business Management) added eight points and seven rebounds, while James Pennington (Sr., Calumet City, Ill., Sports Management) finished with six points.

The Statesmen committed 16 turnovers (14 for Baker), which led to a 23-21 deficit in points off mistakes for WPU.

"We had numerous chances in a tough, competitive game," said Head Coach John Henry. "Their crowd really played a factor; it was a ruckus."

Next up: William Penn will finish its regular season Saturday, traveling to Fayette, Mo. to face Central Methodist in Heart action at 4 p.m.