OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Despite balanced scoring across the board, the Ashford University (11-7, 2-2 MCC) men's basketball team was on the short end of a high-scoring affair at No. 13 William Penn University (15-3, 4-0 MCC) on Wednesday, suffering an 89-71 defeat.

The Saints held the Statesmen under their league-leading scoring average of 95 points per contest, but couldn't get enough stops as William Penn extended its win streak to six games and fortified its position as the conference leader.

Senior guards Daniel Joiner of West Chicago, Ill., and Byron Emerson of Rockford, Ill., led five Saints in double figures with 14 points apiece.

Joiner moved closer to becoming the school's all-time leading scorer, now needing just 36 points to achieve the career feat.

Sophomore Matthias Burns of Chicago added 11 points and sophomore Peter Tanzillo of Kewanee, Ill., poured in a season-high 13 points off the bench. Sophomore guard Rashad Carrington of Milwaukee, Wis., also chipped in 13 in a reserve role.

"I think we needed hit a few more shots because our shooting percentage wasn't very efficient," AU Head Coach Andy Eberhart said. "William Penn is a good team and they showed why they're in the national rankings."

Ashford held William Penn's reigning Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Week Kris Miller in check on 4-of-16 shooting and no three-point field goals. Miller came into the game leading the conference in trifectas made.

But the Statesmen also had five players in double-figures, led by the sibling tandem of Joel and Caleb Stout. Joel scored a game-high 23 points and Caleb added a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Both teams jockeyed for momentum in the early going, with Emerson breaking a 9-9 tie with a jumper. The Statesmen went on a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead and wouldn't look back, leading the rest of the way just over five minutes into the game.

Ashford would remain in striking distance for most of the first half, but a three-pointer by Joel Stout with a minute and change left before the break gave William Penn a 13-point edge at the intermission.

Carrington cut down what became a 17-point Statesmen advantage down to eight with a 3-pointer, but the AU momentum was stunted with a 10-0 William Penn run with just over seven minutes left in regulation.

The Saints were without juniors Devin Ehrich (8.1 ppg) of Thomson, Ill., and Dustin Barker of Davis, Ill., as well as freshman Lucas Mulholland of Mount Vernon, all unable to travel due to illness.

Ashford will face another ranked team this weekend as MCC continues, squaring off against No. 17 Grand View University in Des Moines on Saturday. Tip is set for 3 p.m.