Pioneers Take #1 Penn to the Limit Again, Fall in OT

The Basics
Score: MNU 97 - William Penn 101 (OT)
Record: MNU (15-15), WPU (28-1)
Location: Penn Gymnasium - Oskaloosa, Iowa

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - For the second time this month, MNU took the best team in the country into overtime. The Pioneers came up just short, losing 101-97 to William Penn in the Heart Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday. MNU got off to a good start, grabbing an early 5-point lead and maintaining a 6-point lead with just over 4 minutes remaining in the half. But the Statesmen closed with a 14-3 run to take a 5-point lead to the locker room.

At the 16-minute mark of the second half, WPU held a 51-45 lead. But over the next 9 minutes, the Pioneers outscored the Statesmen 32-12 to take a commanding 14-point lead with 7 minutes remaining. The next 90 seconds was a blitz from Penn, scoring 8 straight points as MNU didn't even get a shot off. Anthony Brown momentarily stopped the bleeding with a 3-point play, but WPU kept coming. An 11-0 run gave Penn the lead, and the final minutes of regulation were a dogfight. Anthony Brown tied the game with a layup in the final seconds, and the game went into overtime.

The extra period was tight throughout, and MNU had a final possession trailing by 2. A 3-pointer in the final seconds rimmed off, and Penn collected the rebound for the win.

Turning Point
Penn's 8-0 run in 90 seconds in the second half got them back in the game.

Individual Leaders
Anthony Brown played all 45 minutes and had 27 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Trey Brown had 21 points and 9 assists. Cameron Brady had 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Jake Alexander added 14 points and 6 rebounds. And Caleb Jones-McCrary had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

Up Next
The next game will begin coach Adam Hepker's era of MNU Men's Basketball this Fall.