Box Score FULTON, Mo.—The William Woods men's basketball team suffered another close game loss, this time at the hands of Missouri Valley College, as the Vikings defeated the Owls 69-63.
The Owls (1-8; 0-1 AMC), looked to even out the season series between the two teams', as the Vikings (8-5; 1-2 HAAC) won the first meeting 89-81 in Marshall, Mo., back on Nov. 4
th.
After starting out slow in the first half in their previous meeting, the Owls made a statement early on, jumping out to a 14-4 lead, capped off by a
Patrick Lewis basket with 15:43 remaining. The Vikings, however, responded going on a 14-4 run of their own over the next 4:00 minutes and were able to tie the game up at 18-18, after Raviel Burton made his two point shot.
With 7:44 left on the clock, senior
Blake Burgess gave the Owls some breathing room and pushed the advantage back up to four points at 24-20, after making a two point field goal.
WWU, however, closed out the half cold from the field, as the Vikings went on another run, this time having a 17-4 advantage over the final 7:00 minutes of play and headed to the locker room up 37-28 on the Owls.
Missouri Valley shot an impressive 55 percent (16-for-29) from the floor, while the Owls, who jumped out to a fast start on the Vikings, ended the half shooting 33 percent (11-for-33). Burgess led the Owls with 10 points, while Brad
Hamilton who came into the game averaging 13 points per game, had already eclipsed his season average, totaling 14 in the half.
Like they have throughout the season thus far, the Owls are a team that can erase a deficit in a blink of an eye and they did it again tonight. The team attacked the basket early in the second half, allowing them to go on an 11-0 run through the first 7:00 minutes of the second half, capped off by
Nate Bitner hitting a three pointer, giving the Owls a 39-37 lead.
The two team's continued to trade baskets for the next 2:00 minutes, and it was Burgess striking again from the floor, hitting his field goal and tying up the game at 44-44.
The Vikings regained the two point lead at 46-44 with 9:53 remaining in regulation, after Brody Thompson hit both of his free throws. MVC continued to hold a marginal lead over the Owls, but after trailing 64-56, Lewis came down the court and hit his two pointer, cutting the lead down to 64-58.
Then, Bitner nailed another three pointer for the Owls after a steal by
Dontre' Jenkins, and now WWU was down just three points with 1:21 left on the clock.
That would be as close as William Woods would get, however, as MVC was able to fend off the Owls and go on for the six point victory, handing WWU its fifth straight loss.
The Owls shot a season low 34 percent from the field and were outrebounded 40-37 in the game. Burgess scored a team high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while
Jonathon Nutt added 14 points and three assists. Junior
Matt Helle scored seven points and grabbed down a team and career high 11 rebounds on the night.
The Vikings were led by Hamilton scoring a game high 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting, while Burton earned himself a double-double, totaling 17 points and grabbing down 12 boards. James Lane added nine points off the bench, but was one of the reasons why MVC won the glass advantage, having 17 rebounds.
The Owls will now rest for the holiday and get back into action on Dec. 28
th against No. 18 ranked Culver-Stockton College at the Columbia College Cougars vs. Cancer Classic. Tip-off will start at 4:00 p.m. in Columbia, Mo.
Fans should stay updated throughout the 2013-14 season for full previews and game recaps on the men's basketball team.
