NAPTON, Mo. (Interstat) — In a high-octane rematch of a December nail-biter, the William Penn Statesmen outlasted the Missouri Valley Vikings 88-82 in a men’s NAIA basketball game Saturday at Grover C. Redford Gymnasium.

The contest, played on Feb. 21, 2026, mirrored the teams’ first meeting this season, which William Penn won by two points. This time, the Statesmen used a dominant second-quarter performance to overcome a halftime deficit and secure the road victory, improving their record to 18-5. Missouri Valley fell to 16-10.

The game’s most critical sequence was a decisive second-quarter run by William Penn that flipped the momentum for good. After a chaotic, fast-paced first quarter that saw Missouri Valley take a 49-40 lead behind hot shooting from Antwon Ferrell and Devin Davenport, the Statesmen tightened their defense and seized control.

The pivotal stretch began with William Penn trailing 53-49 early in the second period. The Statesmen embarked on a 16-2 surge over the next four minutes, transforming their deficit into a 65-55 lead. The run was fueled by defensive stops and efficient offense, featuring layups from Alif Bass and Daivion Boleware, a dunk by Chase Page, and a 3-pointer from Page that capped the burst. Missouri Valley went scoreless for over three minutes during the stretch, missing five consecutive shots and committing two turnovers as William Penn’s defensive pressure intensified.

Missouri Valley, which led by as many as nine points in the first half, never fully recovered. The Vikings clawed back to within four points on several occasions in the final minutes, but William Penn consistently answered at the free-throw line to seal the win. The Statesmen made 10 of their final 12 free throws in the last 1:30 of the game to prevent a comeback.

Daivion Boleware led William Penn with 24 points and nine rebounds, continuing a string of strong performances. Foday Sheriff posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, adding seven assists and two blocks. Javion Belle-McCrary also scored 19 points, while Chase Page contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.

For Missouri Valley, Antwon Ferrell scored a game-high 26 points and had four assists. Devin Davenport added 23 points and five rebounds. The duo combined for 49 points but received limited scoring support outside of Kamari Slaughter’s nine points.

William Penn’s victory completed a regular-season sweep of the Vikings. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Missouri Valley had been projected with a 55.3% probability to win at home. The Statesmen’s second-quarter defense, which held the Vikings to 33 points after surrendering 49 in the first, proved to be the difference.