Nationally ranked Statesmen halt Wildcats’ record-setting win streak at 10 straight

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — The Culver-Stockton College men’s basketball team’s record-setting win streak came to an abrupt end Saturday.

Very abruptly.

William Penn, ranked third in the NAIA national poll, went on a 17-5 run in the first half of Saturday’s Heart of America Athletic Conference, scored 53 points by halftime and steamrolled C-SC 119-76 at Penn Gymnasium.

The loss ended the Wildcats’ 10-game win streak, which was the longest season-opening run in program history.

The Wildcats (10-1, 1-1 Heart) jumped out to an 8-4 lead four minutes into the game and trailed just 14-10 when Javon Modester made two free throws with 13:53 to go in the half. Seven minutes later, it was a 16-point deficit. A 10-4 spurt to close the half gave the Statesman (11-0, 3-0 Heart) a 23-point halftime edge.

A 16-2 run by William Penn made it a 39-point advantage with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

The Wildcats shot just 32.9 percent from the field and 21.9 percent from 3-point range. They were outscored 42-16 on points in the paint and 67-24 on bench points. Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor led C-SC with 19 points, and Jalen Blaize added 18. William Penn had four players in double figures and saw 14 different players score.