FULTON, Mo, - On the night, honoring three of the Owls seniors, the William Woods University men's basketball team captured a crucial American Midwest Conference victory, defeating Park University 78-72 in OT on Saturday night.
The Owls (11-17; 8-12 AMC) had four players end the night in double digits, while
DJ Johnson recorded his second double-double performance on the year to guide WWU to pick up its second consecutive win.
William Woods came out and quickly jumped to a 11-7 lead after a three pointer from
Nate Bitner, at the 15:36 mark. Then the Owls would push its lead up to nine, after Alex Mulvihill picked up right where he left off, in his career-high night on Thursday, sinking his first field-goal of the night, making the score 27-18 with 6:06 left to play.
Then WWU would go on a 8-0 run, as the first half was winding down, extending its lead to the largest of the game, 39-22, the Pirates would collect a field goal right before the end of the half but the Owls headed into the locker room with the 15 point lead over Park.
In the first half the Owls were red hot, shooting over 50 percent from both the field and three point line, while holding Park to shooting just 33 percent from the field as the Pirates were 0-of-7 from beyond the three point line.
In the second half, the Pirates were not going away without a fight in this AMC showdown. After controlling most of the second frame and cruising with a double-digit lead, the Pirates would get within three of the Owls at the 5:36 mark. At that point, the fans knew they were in store for a nail bitter for the rest of the match-up, as the teams went possession for possession.
Shortly after with less than a minute in regulation, after going on a 9-2 run Park would tie the game up 67-67 after a Freddie Manyawu basket. Then with the game riding on the line, following a Owls foul, Park missed two key free throws and at the end of 40:00 minutes of play, we were off to over time inside Anderson Arena.
After trading first baskets of over time, Bitner would take the momentum from the Pirates by nailing his fifth three pointer on the night from the wing, to put the Owls up by three, 72-69 with 2:51 left in OT. Park would tie the game, for the seventh time on the night, 72-72 after two free throws. Despite the comeback efforts, in the final minutes William Woods would stay composed, convert on free-throws and go on the take the 78-72 victory over the Pirates.
The Owls closed the game shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from the three point line. Two seniors, led the way for WWU, as Bitner totaled 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting, recording five three pointers on the night.
Derrick Hayes ended his senior night, recording a career-high 16 points and seven rebounds, while Mulvihill added 15 points, going 5-of-7 from the field. Johnson, collected a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds) to round out the four Owls to reach double-digits in the Owls victory.
"We were fortunate to get new life and find a way to win down the stretch," said head coach
Nick Totta. "We are very pleased with the way the guys stayed with it and picked up the win."
The Owls return to action next Thursday for its second to last game of the regular season, as the team travels to Columbia College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Fans check back on wwuowls.com for a full preview of this match-up.
