Rebounding,
3-point shooting spark Statesmen
Posted
2/21/08 11:10 AM
Curtis Kilgore |
Brandon Barnhart |
OSKALOOSA,
Iowa -- The Mount Mercy College men's basketball team shot nearly
50 percent from the field but was outgunned from 3-point range
and at the free throw line in an 86-75 loss to William Penn University
on Wednesday at Penn Gymnasium.
While the
Mustangs (12-15, 5-10 MCC) were just 4-of-9 from beyond the arc
and 11-of-20 at the foul line, the NAIA Division II 12th-ranked
Statesmen (25-5, 13-3 MCC) drained 11-of-29 from distance and
hit 17-of-25 free throws. They also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds,
leading to a 45-41 advantage on the glass. William Penn's victory
also clinched the outright league title and tied the school record
for single-season wins.
Senior forward
Curtis Kilgore posted his third double-double of the season, leading
Mount Mercy with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Brandon
Barnhart added 15 points and was one of four Mustangs with three
assists. Senior center Steve Smith had 10 points and four boards,
senior forward Brett McGee 10 points, four rebounds, and a pair
of steals.
William Penn
got 39 points from its bench, led by Kris Miller's game-high 27
points. He nailed four triples and also finished with five rebounds
and four steals. Andre Thompson chipped in 22 points, Caleb Stout
15 points and a game-high eight boards.
Mount Mercy
heads to Viterbo University (Wis.) (8-20, 3-12 MCC) for a regular
season finale on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium
in La Crosse, Wis. The Mustangs can finish seventh in the MCC
with a win Saturday, coupled with a Waldorf College (14-14, 6-9
MCC) loss at Ashford University (15-12, 7-8 MCC). If the Mustangs
end up eighth in the league, Mount Mercy and Viterbo will meet
for the second time in three days, battling in an MCC tournament
first round game on Monday at 7:00 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation
Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
