Box Score FULTON, Mo.- There is now a three way tie for third place in the American Midwest Conference, as the William Woods University men's basketball went on the road and defeated Missouri Baptist 82-66.
In the first half, the Owls shooting started out cold from the floor in the first 7:00 minutes, as the team trailed 16-10, shooting 23.2% from the field, while Missouri Baptist was on fire starting out 8-of-11 led by LeAndre' Johnson's 10 points.
Down 21-14 with 9:33 left on the clock, the Owls started to find their shooting touch, as the team went on a 11-4 run, tying the game at 25-25 after a two point basket by
Dontre' Jenkins. Then, less than one minute later,
Blake Burgess knocked in a two pointer giving William Woods their first lead of the game at 27-25, with 6:20 remaining.
After MBU cut the deficit down to 27-26, WWU went on a 7-0 run, helped out by
Jonathon Nutt knocking in five points, taking a 34-26 advantage. The Owls were able to hold their lead the rest of the half, heading to the locker room up 41-34. Junior
Seth Thomas led the way offensively with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, while
Logan Decker was second on the team, adding eight points.
After their slow shooting start, the Owls ended the half shooting 47%, leading the rebound battle 13-12 and had 11 assists compared to six for MBU. A key stat in the first half belongs to WWU, as the team got 17 points off their bench, while the Spartans had just six.
Nutt continued the Owls hot shooting the second half knocking in a three pointer, giving them a 44-34 lead. After Decker hit a three pointer with 14:13 remaining extending their lead to 54-44, the William Woods offense started to pick up their defense and knock down even more shots.
For the final 14:13 minutes, the Owls never let that lead get under double-digits with their biggest advantage being 18 at 80-62, after Nutt knocked in a two point shot in the paint with just over 2:00 minutes left. William Woods was able to go on for the key AMC road winning by 16.
Six Owls reached double-figures led Burgess and Decker each totaling 14 points and combining from the field going 12-of-22 from the field.
Daniel Armah had another double-double chipping in 12 points and 11 rebounds. Hoskins, Nutt and Thomas each added 11 points apiece. Johnson led Missouri Baptist with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
Points in the paint were dominated by the Owls totaling 50 points, and holding the Spartans to 36. WWU also won on the boards, grabbing down 37 rebounds, too MBU's 29.
The Owls now move to (9-6 AMC, 13-15 overall) which ties them now with the Spartans and Williams Baptist in the AMC. Up next the #1 ranked Columbia Cougars come to town on Senior Day, tip off starts at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
