COLUMBIA, Mo.—The William Woods University men's basketball team was unable to muster up another second half comeback on Saturday afternoon, as the Owls fell to Cumberland University, 85-76.
WWU (1-2), shot 40.5 percent from the floor and were led by
Kevin House, as the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native, reached double-figures in points for the third consecutive game, posting a team-high 18 on 7-of-13 shooting.
Deon Pettigrew, scored a season-high 13 points on 50.0 percent shooting (6-of-12) from the floor, while
Austin Lowery and
TaiRhe Turner each added nine points off the bench. Lowery, also tied his career-high, dishing out a game-high nine assists.
Cumberland University (3-1), meanwhile, shot 50.9 percent from the floor and got to the free throw line 29 times, making 21 of its attempts, compared to WWU getting to the charity-stripe just 12 times.
The Bulldogs had four players in double-figures, with Will Shelton netting a game-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Mark Brown added 17 points and six boards, while Delaryn Dodd and Cedric Nash added 13 and 12 points respectively.
The Owls trailed early out of the gate, but cut its deficit down to 15-14, after
Keyaire Marshall hit a 3-pointer at the 10:32 mark. The Bulldogs, responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by Nash's two-pointer, which put the team ahead 21-14, with just under nine minutes remaining.
WWU continued to battle, however, as House got the bucket and the foul at the 6:55 mark. The senior was able to hit the free throw and narrow the lead down to 24-21. The Bulldogs, who shot 51.9 percent from the floor in the first half, couldn't be slowed down, as this time around, they went on a 15-6 run, with Brown hitting a 3-pointer and putting CU ahead 39-27, with 2:16 remaining.
Cumberland University was able to maintain its double-digit lead heading into halftime, as they led the Owls, 43-32.
The Owls, shot 34.2 percent from the floor and were led by Turner having eight points, while Shelton led the Bulldogs with 12 points.
In the second half, WWU, was looking for a fast start just like yesterday, but the Bulldogs had other plans, as they stretched its lead out to 15 (54-39), after Brown hit another 3-pointer at the 16:38 mark.
William Woods, started to find its groove and were able to go on an 11-4 run, with Lowery earning the old-fashioned three-point play, which cut CU's lead down to 58-50, with just over 12:00 minutes left.
Over the next four minutes, the Bulldogs got its breathing room back at 71-55, its largest lead of the game, after Nash made his two point shot, which forced the Owls coaching staff to take a time out.
WWU wouldn't go quietly though, as they cut the lead down to 84-76, after Lowery drained a 3-pointer with .27 seconds left, but the Bulldogs were able to make another free throw and secure the nine-point win over the Owls.
William Woods shot an improved 47.2 percent in the second half, but the Bulldogs fared just better, hitting 50.0 percent of its shots, while going 11-of-15 from the free throw line.
At the conclusion of the Cougars vs. Cancer Classic, House and Lowery were named to the All-Classic team. Joining them, included, Cedric Nash (Cumberland University), Jojuan Graham (Culver-Stockton) and Chantel Stanciel (Columbia College).
The Owls will now return home for a five-game stretch, as they will host Avila University on Wednesday, November 11
th. Tip-off will start at 7:30 p.m.
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com next week for a full preview of its outing against the Eagles.
