(FULTON, Mo., Feb. 24)--The William Woods University men's basketball team lost to visiting Missouri Baptist University Thursday night in Anderson Arena. The Owls dropped the American Midwest Conference game 66-67. Thursday night was Senior Night at William Woods. This year's senior class included Dan Anderson, Vern Watkins, Teal Snoddy, Caleb Parry, Zach McDearmon and Wes Harper.

The Owls trailed by eight points heading into halftime. MBU held a 38-30 lead through the first 20 minutes of play. William Woods shot 34.5% from the field in the first half.

Missouri Baptist took a 64-51 lead over the Owls with 5:38 remaining in the game. The Owls rallied and cut the game to three points on a bucket from Elliott Black (St. Louis, Mo.) with 1:16 remaining. MBU missed on its next possession and Dontre' Jenkins (New Madrid, Mo.) hit a lay-up in transition to cut the deficit to one point. Jenkins was fouled on the play and went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.

Jenkins could not covert on the free throw. Missouri Baptist had a chance to put the game away in the closing seconds but could not covert on a three-point attempt with 33 seconds remaining. Logan Decker (Kansas City, Mo.) grabbed the rebound and the Owls had one final chance to win the game.

After a pair of WWU time-outs, the Owls found Dan Anderson (Jefferson City, Mo.) in the right corner. Anderson's three-point attempt rimmed out and the Spartans left Anderson Arena with the AMC victory.

Black led the Owls with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Black was 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-6 from the foul line.

Jonathon Nutt (Palmyra, Mo.) added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Owls in the loss. Decker added 12 points for WWU. Jenkins reached double-figures in the loss. He finished the night with 10 points.

MBU (8-20, 2-11) shot 42.4% from the field in the win. WWU (11-17, 5-8) shot 41.7% from the field in the loss. The Spartans outrebounded the Owls 40-39.

William Woods will return to action on Saturday. The Owls travel to Columbia College. Tip-off is at 4 pm in Columbia, Mo.