COLUMBIA, Mo. – The William Woods University Men's Basketball team dropped its first game of the season to Culver-Stockton College, 80-70, in the first game of the Columbia Cougar vs. Cancer Classic, hosted by Columbia College.
 
Shannon James led the Owls with 23 points on the afternoon, on 10-of-17 shooting. Deon Pettigrew followed with 16 points to round out the double-figure scorers for the Owls. Brandon Vice led the Owls with nine rebounds in the contest.
 
The Owls return to action tomorrow, Saturday November 5th they close out the Columbia Cougar vs. Cancer Classic against Baker University at 3 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls and Wildcats came out trading baskets as after a jumper by James put the Owls ahead by three, 6-3. The lead did not last long as Culver-Stockton scored the next four points taking a, 7-6 lead early in the contest.
 
After the contest was tied at 7-7, the Owls grew the lead to four points, but again the Wildcats had an answer as they came back to take the lead after a three-pointer by Francesc Iturria. The lead would go back and forth and after a three-point play by Thaddeus Newby the Owls lead was down to one, 20-19.
 
The game stayed tight during the first half as it was tied at 26-26, with 5:09 left in the half, the Wildcats hit back-to-back three-pointers taking a six-point lead, 32-26. William Woods continued to battle and built a lead back to 36-34, after a three by Alec Mulvihill, which would be the halftime score.
 
Neither team could take control of the game in the second half as they continued to trade leads and a jumper in the paint by James tied the game at 43-43 with 15:23 to play in the contest. Forty-five seconds later Mulvihill gave the Owls a two-point lead, 45-43.
 
WWU grew its lead to four, 49-45, prior to the Wildcats started a comeback and tied the game at 51-51. Both teams continued to trade leads and after the game was tied at 55-55, the Wildcats scored the next five points taking a 60-55 lead. WWU cut the lead down to one, 60-59, after an Antonio Winn basket in the paint.
 
That would be as close as the Owls would get for the remainder of the game as Culver-Stockton slowly built the lead up to nine points, 76-67. The Owls would drop the contest, 80-70, for its first loss of the season.
 
By the Numbers
23 – Shannon James led the Owls with 23 points
4 – The Owls only hit four three pointers in the contest
54.5% - The Owls shot 54.5% from the free throw line
9 – Brandon Vice led the Owls with nine rebounds
42 – WWU had 42 points scored in the paint
18 – The Owls bench scored 18 points in the contest