Cole Bowen Reaches 1,000 Career Points in Graceland's Victory Over Penn

LAMONI, Iowa – The Graceland University men's basketball team secured a decisive 93-68 victory over William Penn University on Saturday at the Morden Center. The win improves the Yellowjackets to 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart), while William Penn falls to 9-11 overall and 6-10 in conference play.

The highlight of the night was Cole Bowen, who reached a career milestone by scoring his 1,000th career point. Bowen delivered an exceptional performance, leading Graceland with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Head coach Todd Lorenson praised Bowen's achievement, stating, "He's a great teammate, and it was awesome seeing his teammates' excitement for his personal milestone of 1,000 points."

First Half Recap

Graceland displayed an inconsistent first half, alternating between strong offensive runs and periods of inefficiency. Despite the struggles, the Yellowjackets held a 44-39 lead at halftime. Bowen set the tone early, contributing crucial baskets and controlling the glass with five defensive rebounds in the opening period.

Guard Maijhe Wiley, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, was instrumental in the first-half effort. His ability to attack the rim and stretch the floor created opportunities for his teammates. Coach Lorenson commended Wiley's performance, adding, "His ability to make shots and score around the rim makes him a tough cover. Getting 10 rebounds out of him was huge."

Reflecting on the first-half performance, Lorenson noted, "Our first half was very inconsistent. We had stretches of playing very well and others of playing poorly."

Second Half Performance

The Yellowjackets came out of the break with a renewed focus, executing on both ends of the floor. Graceland outscored William Penn 49-29 in the second half, improving their field goal percentage to 53.8% and capitalizing on defensive stops to transition into high-percentage scoring opportunities.

Graceland's ball security and rebounding were key to its success. The team recorded 45 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, and limited turnovers to just 9. Coach Lorenson emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, "Our defensive rebounding as a team and ball security were key to our overall success today."

Key Performers

• Cole Bowen: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block
• Maijhe Wiley: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
• Darrius Davis: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
• Carson Busch: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

Team Statistics

Graceland shot 49.2% from the field (29-of-59), including 30.8% from three-point range (8-of-26), and converted 81.8% (27-of-33) from the free-throw line. Defensively, the Yellowjackets held William Penn to 37.3% shooting from the floor and forced 8 turnovers.

William Penn was led by who scored 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Roy Jones III contributed 6 points and 6 rebounds. The Statesmen struggled from three-point range, connecting on just 24.1% of their attempts (7-of-29).

Looking Ahead

Graceland will continue its midseason momentum as it hosts Benedictine College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.