FULTON, Mo. – The No. 23 William Woods University men's basketball team dropped its fifth American Midwest Conference game of the season as they were defeated by Lyon College, 58-51, on Thursday evening at Anderson Arena.
 
Deon Pettigrew led the Owls with 10 points in the contest and Jonny Woolf followed with eight for the Owls. WWU struggled offensively as they committed 21 turnovers in the contest. WWU shot 39.6 percent from the floor in the loss.
 
WWU returns to action on Saturday, January 21st when they host Central Baptist College in the American Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Game of the Week. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
 
Game Flow
William Woods offense came out sluggish in the first half as they were held to three points over the first three and a half minutes of the contest. With the Scots ahead, 6-1, Trey Mitchell hit the first field goal for the Owls with 16:31 left putting the Owls down three, 6-3.
 
After a basket by Deon Pettigrew, the Owls found itself down one, but Lyon answered back growing its lead to eight points, 13-5. Lyon grew its lead to 11 points, 20-9, after a three-pointer by Joe Burt. WWU and Lyon traded baskets and with 7:24 left in the first half, WWU still found itself down 11, 25-14.
 
The Owls closed out the first half playing strong defense and getting its offense going. William Woods went on a 14-3 run over the final 7:24 of the first half trimming the Scots lead down to one, 28-27, heading into halftime. During that stretch, the Owls held Lyon scoreless for a seven-minute span.
 
William Woods came out and after a steal by Keyaire Marshall, and Marshall went in for a layup putting the Owls ahead, 29-28. The game remained close and the game found itself tied at 31-31 early in the second half.
 
Lyon stretched its lead to four points after a Branden Wendel jumper but the Owls answered back with a three by Jonny Woolf and the Owls trailed by one, 37-36, with 14:02 left in the half. Later in the half, the Scots grew its lead back to four, 45-41, after a Wendel jumper in the paint but the Owls Klayton Kuschel scored back-to-back baskets tying the game at 45-45.
 
William Woods and Lyon found themselves tied at 47-47 late in the second half and a jumper by Wendel put the Scots ahead, 49-47. Lyon continued to slowly grow its lead and with 2:07 left in the game, the Scots lead grew to five, 54-49. After a jumper by Brandon Vice in the lane, the Owls trailed 54-51 with one minute remaining in the contest. Vice's basket would be the last points for the Owls and the Scots added four more as the Owls were defeated 58-51.
 
By the Numbers
1 – WWU had one player score in double-figures
10 – Deon Pettigrew led the Owls with 10 points
21 – The Owls committed 21 turnovers in the loss
39.6 – WWU shot 39.6 percent from the floor in the contest
5 – William Woods hit five three-pointers in the contest
20 – The Owls scored 20 points in the paint
23 – 23 of the Owls 51 points were scored from bench players