Box Score
FULTON, Mo. -- Daniel Armah's sixth double-double on the year (16 points, 14 rebounds) wasn't enough as the William Woods University men's basketball team fell 70-66 to Missouri Baptist University.
Neither team could gain an advantage in a first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. The Spartans held a brief 5-point lead at 31-26, but the Owls would go on a 7-0 run capped off by a Logan Decker three-pointer to give WWU a 33-31 lead going into the half.
The Owls would start the second half forcing two consecutive Spartan turnovers into points as they took a 37-31 lead.
Each team had trouble keeping their poise as each squad was plagued by several turnovers. The Spartans found enough control to cut the lead to two points at 37-35, but a Jonathon Nutt three-point play would give the Owls a 40-35 lead with 16 minutes remaining.
MBU cut WWU's lead to just one point at 46-45 with 11:45 left. A pair of Blake Burgess free throws would extend the Owls' lead to 48-45, but a missed layup by WWU led to an MBU dunk to pull them back within one at 48-47.
After the two teams traded baskets, Missouri Baptist took a 51-50 lead after a pair of LeAndre Jones free throws. The Owls turned the ball over on their next possession and the Spartans took advantage of another pair of free throws to take a 53-50 lead with 7:26 left in the game.
William Woods regained the lead at 54-53 after a Daniel Armah reverse layup. Dontre Jenkins would extend the lead to 56-53 with a little over five minutes remaining.
Missouri Baptist would go on a 10-2 run to take a 63-58 lead forcing a William Woods timeout with 2:11 remaining. Out of the timeout Missouri Baptist nailed two free throws to extend its lead.
The deficit proved to be too much to overcome as a late William Woods rally wasn't enough as the Owls fell 70-66.
The loss is the second consecutive for the Owls and is the first loss at home during conference play. William Woods falls to 9-11 on the year and 5-2 in the AMC. Missouri Baptist improves to 4-3 in league play and 9-11 overall on the year.
Logan Decker became the school's first ever 1,500 point scorer as he collected a team-high 17 points. Daniel Armah picked up his sixth double-double on the year with his 16-point, 14-rebound performance.
The Owls return to action on Saturday as they travel to no. 1 Columbia College on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m.
