FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team struggled shooting the ball as they shot 39 percent from the floor, the second lowest of the season, but earned a 78-75, victory over Lindenwood University-Belleville in American Midwest Conference.
 
Trey Mitchell scored a team-high 23 points for the Owls (17-10, 13-6 AMC), who had three players score in double-figures. Kevin House followed with 16 points, while Deon Pettigrew added 11 points. Lindenwood-Belleville's (12-14, 9-10 AMC) Sean MCGee scored a career-high 32 points.
 
Game Flow
The Owls came out on fire as they raced a 4-0 lead and forced the visiting Lynx into a timeout within the first 30 seconds of the contest. WWU continued to build its lead as they stretched the lead to 10-2 over the first four minutes of the contest.
 
Lindenwood-Belleville continued to battle as they battled back taking a one point lead, 19-18, after an Alex Stuart three pointer. After taking the lead both teams traded leads until the Owls went on a 16-3 run taking a 13 point lead, 36-23 lead with 3:22 left in the first half. WWU only scored four more points for the half as the Lynx scored nine trimming the Owls lead down to six points, 40-34, into halftime.
 
The Lynx continued to battle in the second half and with 15:33 left in the contest, the Owls lead was trimmed to two points, 48-46. Lindenwood-Belleville took the lead after a McGee three pointer with 14:38 left in the contest.
 
The teams continued to trade leads over the next five minutes of the contest as there was six different lead chances. With the game tied at 63-63, the Owls scored the next four points, taking a 67-63 lead. William Woods continued to hold onto its lead and with 10 second left in the game, WWU led by three points, 75-72.
 
Four second later, McGee hit two free throws trimming the lead down to one point, 75-74. Austin Lowery hit a pair of free throws extending the lead back to three points, 77-74. Shunquez Stephens cut the lead back to two points, 77-75, after hitting one of two free throws. After he missed the second free throw Keith Jackson collected the rebound and was fouled. Jackson hit the first free throw putting the Owls ahead by three, 78-75, but missed the second and Stephens collected the rebound and sent up a half-court shot that did not go in and the Owls hung on for a 78-75 victory.  
 
By The Numbers
20 – The Owls hit 20-of-28 free throws during the contest
3 – The Owls had three players score in double-figures
23 – Trey Mitchell led the way for the Owls with 23 points
18 – WWU scored 18 second chance points
42 – William Woods scored 42 points in the paint
15 – The Owls collected 15 offensive rebounds in the game
39 % - WWU shot 39 percent in the contest, the second lowest of the season
8 – The Owls collected a season-low eight assists on the night
 
Upcoming Games
The Owls return to action on Thursday, Feb. 18 when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to face for Williams Baptist College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.