The William Woods University men's basketball team looks to snap a three-game losing streak as they host American Midwest Conference foe, Benedictine University at Springfield, on Thursday night. Tip-off for the game, presented by State Farm, is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Matchup
After the 103-55 thumping of Williams Baptist College on Jan. 15, William Woods stood alone in first place in the AMC at a perfect 5-0. Since that day, the Owls are 0-3 and have slipped back into a three-way tie for third at 5-3 with WBC and Missouri Baptist. The three-game skid has also put the Owls record below the.500 mark at 9-12.

Benedictine University at Springfield is riding a six-game losing streak and stands in eighth place in conference play at 1-7. Overall on the year the Bulldogs are 4-16.

This will be the second time this season these two have squared off. On Jan. 3 William Woods traveled to Benedictine University at Springfield and defeated the Bulldogs 66-64. Blake Burgess and Roy McElroy led an Owls quartet of double-digit scorers with 13 apiece.

William Woods holds the advantage over BenU Springfield in points per game (69.8.-61.3) and shoot slightly better (.424-406) from the floor. The Owls also hold the edge behind the arc (.346-.330) and average 1.6 more three-pointers made per game than the Spartans (6.7- 5.2).

Each team has had its struggles at the line this season, but WWU holds a slim lead (.663-.616) over Benedictine University at Springfield from the charity stripe.

The Owls grab 4.7 more caroms per game (38.7-34.0) than the Bulldogs.

William Woods is holding its opponents to 68.6 points per game on .431 shooting from the field and BenU Springfield is giving up 71.6 points per game and has allowed teams to shoot .429 from the floor.

Last Time Out
WWU went scoreless for nearly nine minutes in the first half as they suffered a 73-53 setback to no. 1 Columbia College on Saturday afternoon.

After a Logan Decker basket at the 17:56 mark the Owls would have to wait 8:38 for their next made field goal which was a Blake Burgess three-point basket at the 9:18 mark to bring WWU within 14 points at 19-5.

The deficit was too much to overcome as Columbia College would build its lead to the 20's and won by the final score of 73-53.

Burgess had a fantastic day as he collected 15 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. D.J. Hoskins was the only other Owl in double-figures with 15 points.   

Congratulations
Logan Decker, who is already the school's all-time leading scorer in points, accomplished another milestone at William Woods last Thursday by becoming the first player in school history to record 1,500 points.

History In The Making
With their next AMC win William Woods will break the school record for most conference wins in a season. The current mark is five conference wins which has been achieved four times in program history. (2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13)

A Black Star Export
Hailing from the African country of Ghana, Daniel Armah has been a lifelong fan of the Ghana national soccer team, referred to as 'The Black Stars'. Not only is Armah a fan but he is a talented soccer player as well.

The 6-6 forward has been a force for the Owls since returning at the end of the first semester. Since his return he has averaged 14.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and has collected six double-doubles on the year. Armah has tallied a double-double in five of his last seven games.

 Will It Work In Peoria?
D.J. Hoskins and Demarius Sumrell have both made an immediate impact for the Owls this year. The Peoria, Ill., natives have each stepped up to play significant roles for WWU this year. Hoskins averages 12.1 points per game on the year, good for third-best, while Sumrell leads the team with 21 steals.

Hitting From Downtown
The Owls have been an exceptionally good shooting team from three-point land this year. As a team, William Woods is hitting .346 from behind the arc. The mark is the 44th-best percentage in the nation.

D.J. Hoskins' .424 success rate ranks him 26th in nation in three point field goal percentage. The 6-3 guard has hit 8-of-17 over the last three games for .470. He hit a career-high 6-of-10 from behind the arc in the Owl's 78-70 overtime loss to Park University on Jan. 17.

WWU hit a season-high 12 three point field goals on Dec. 7 in their 81-64 win over Haskell Indian Nations University. Seth Thomas led the way for the Owls with his 5-of-6 performance behind the arc en route to a career-high 21 points, and is connecting at a .329 pace in his 14 games on the year.

Chairman of the Board
Since his return to the Owls on Dec. 29 Daniel Armah has been collecting caroms at an absurd pace. The 6-6 forward leads the team with 11.0 boards per game average and is riding a three-game double-digit rebounding streak.
In eight conference games Armah has grabbed 89 rebounds for an 11.12 rebounds per game average, the highest total in conference play.

Glass Eaters
William Woods has the 25th-highest total in rebounds per game at 38.667. That average is helped in large part to the 34.048 defensive rebounds the Owls grab per game, a mark that ranks 30th in the nation.

Keeping the opponents off the glass has been a focal point this year for WWU and it has reflected in the national statistics. William Woods ranks 22nd in the NAIA in rebounding margin, grabbing 4.619 more caroms per game than its opposition.
 
Mix and Match
The Owls have done a bit of juggling in the starting lineup throughout the early part of the season, with 11 different players starting at least one game for WWU. Logan Decker has been the only constant, starting all 18 games on the year for head coach Nick Totta.

Since the start of conference play on Jan. 3 at Benedictine University at Springfield, coach Totta has gone with the same starting lineup of Daniel Armah, Logan Decker, D.J. Hoskins, Roy McElroy and Jonathon Nutt.

A Look At Benedictine University at Springfield
Benedictine University at Springfield is in its first season competing in basketball and stands at 1-7 in the AMC and 4-16 overall on the year. The Bulldogs are currently riding a six-game losing streak.
 
Justin Smith leads the Bulldogs with 10.2 points per game. The 6-0 junior struggled in his last time out as he only scored three points against Columbia, snapping a three-game double-digit streak.

Smith is the only double-figure scorer for the Bulldogs, but Reggie Thomas (9.8), Thomas Dillard (9.3), Stephen Shepherd (8.3) and Jordan Michels are all a basket away from the 10-point plateau.

Rebounding has been an issue for Benedictine University at Springfield this season. The Bulldogs are being outrebounded by 5.1 caroms per game. Shepherd is the only player averaging over five boards per game with his 6.2 rebounds per game average.

BenU Springfield averages 16.3 turnovers per game to only 9.0 assists. Thomas' 44 assists leads the team.

Voice Of The Owls
Returning to the broadcast booth this season is the duo of Darren Munns and Craig “Boomer” McAndrews. In addition to their coaching duties for WWU Baseball, Munns and McAndrews serve as the primary broadcast tandem for the Owls webcast.

Get Social With The Owls
In addition to the traditional outlets, fans can keep up with the latest news about William Woods Athletics via our social media channels.  Checkout our Facebook page (Facebook.com/WWUOwls) and twitter feed (@WWU_Owls).

Corporate Partners
Tonight's game is sponsored by State Farm. Throughout the 2012-13 season, William Woods will take many opportunities to thank our corporate partners for their support both on and off the field for our student-athletes. Thanks to Atkins Inc., Central Dairy, Coldwell Banker Niedergerke & Co., Columbia Orthopedic Group, Cost Cutter of Mid-Mo, Jack's Gourmet Restaurant, Holiday Inn Express, Joe Machens Dealerships, Mid-City Lumber, Mo-X, PEAK Performance, Red Weir Athletic Supplies, State Farm/Don Woodson and White Dog Promotions.For more information on the WWU Corporate Partner programs, contact the William Woods Athletic Department at 573.592.1624.