FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team will look to even the season series against Williams Baptist College Saturday night, as the teams hosts the Eagles for an American Midwest Conference show down. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.             

The Owls (5-8; 8-13 AMC) are coming off a key road victory against Hannibal-LaGrange University, as WWU defeated the Trojans 65-62, pushing the team into eighth place in the AMC standings.

A late second surge by William Woods helped guide the Owls past the Trojans. As the game was all tied 61-61, with the clock winding down in regulation, freshman Darrien Dickey, came up with arguably the biggest play of the game, a huge offensive rebound from a missed three pointer from Jerel Wilhite and was fouled on the play.

The Iberia, Missouri, native, stepped up to the line and drained both of his free throws, giving WWU a 63-61 lead. The Owls defense stepped up for the final seconds of the game, while also hitting a couple free throws and were able to go on for the three point victory over the Trojans.

The Owls shot 42.6 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from the free throw line in the outing. They were led by TaiRhe Turner scoring a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while adding a team-high six boards.

Austin Lowery and Dickey totaled nine points each, while Derrick Hayes and DJ Johnson contributed eight points apiece.

On the season, Ryan Hill and Johnson continue to lead the way for the Owls, averaging 10.9 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. Johnson also leads the team on the boards, totaling 107 on the season (5.6 per game).

Hill, the St. Louis, Missouri native, is shooting a 50 percent from the field and a 38 percent from the three point line, while coming in second on the team in rebounds with 77 on the season (3.7 per game).

Back on December 6^th is the last time these two teams meet up and it was all Williams Baptist College, as the Owls had a rough night from the field, falling 82-53. WWU didn't have an answer for the red-hot Eagles, as the team shot over 50 percent from both the field (56 percent) and beyond the arc (57 percent), while four WBC players ended the night in double-digits.

Eagles guard, James McClain, who netted a game high 21 points against the Owls in the match-up earlier this season, is pacing the way offensively for WBC, as he averages 17.2 points per game and shooting a 44 percent from the field.
Forward, Tevin Howard is second of the team in scoring, as the junior averages 15 points per game, while leading the team in rebounds (133).

Another player the Owls will have to get an eye on is Abel Yekeh, who also recorded 21 points in the game back on December 6^th, has pushed his average to 11.2 points per game on the season.

Currently, the Eagles are 10-8 on the season and 9-5 in AMC play. In the team's last outing, WBC defeated Missouri Baptist University 68-58, a victory that snapped its two game losing skid, which were to AMC foes, Park University and Columbia College.

The Owls will look for its second straight conference win in this match-up, in hopes to improve its standings in the American Midwest Conference.

Fans check back on wwuowls.com tomorrow evening for a full recap and score of this game from inside Anderson Arena. 

Tweet ##Owls_MBB