PARKVILLE, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team defeated No. 17 Park University, 71-50, on Saturday afternoon at Park University.
 
Shamari Denson led the Owls with 27 points on 11-of-11 shooting. Ray White followed with 10 points rounding out the double-figure scorers. WWU shot 52 percent from the floor for the contest to defeat No. 17 Park.
 
The Owls return to action on Tuesday, November 21 when they host Haskell Indian Nations University at Anderson Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls came out over the first four minutes of the contest as they opened on a 12-0 run. During the run, three different Owls scored, and DaShaun Stark had four points for the Owls. WWU did not allow Park to score until 13:50 remained in the first half and its first field goal came with 13:37 left in the half.
 
However, the Pirates slowly chipped away at the Owls lead as they went on a 11-2 run and after a basket by Ernest Myles, the Owls led by two, 14-12, with 10:18 left in the first half. WWU did not let Park take the lead and grew the lead to six, 21-15, after a jumper by Shamari Densen.
 
The Owls stretched the lead to eight, 25-17, after a Stark field goal. After the field goal, the Pirates slowly mounted a comeback and trimmed the Owls lead down to four, 25-21, with 3:12 left in the first half. After Park trimmed the lead to four, the Owls closed the half with a 12-2 run and took a 37-23 lead into halftime.
 
WWU continued to add to its lead in the second half as they scored the first baskets of the second half taking a 42-23 lead over Park. After a field goal by Darrien Dickey both teams went scoreless for the next two and a half minutes. Dickey broke the scoreless drought with a two-point basket putting the Owls ahead, 44-23.
 
Parks first points of the second half with 15:16 left when Jacob Kline hit a jumper. After his jumper Park would go another three minutes without a basket as the Owls grew the lead to 48-27 after a Denson field goal with 13:49 left in the contest.
 
WWU continued to grow the lead to 21 points, 52-31, with 11:23 left in the contest after a jumper in the paint by Dickey. Park looked as if they would be making a comeback as the lead was down to 17 points, 54-37, but the Owls wasted little time growing the lead back to 21, 58-37, after a pair of free throws by Jason Walker.
 
With the Owls ahead by 20, 62-42, Parks Zach Rutland hit a three-pointer trimming the Owls lead to 17, 62-45, with 4:49 left in the contest. WWU grew the lead back to 20 points after a Denson three-pointer with 3:35 left in the contest.
 
The Owls continued to hang onto the a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest and came away with a 71-50 victory over No. 17 Park.  
 
By the Numbers
27 – Shamari Denson led the Owls with 27 points
52 – WWU shot 52 percent from the floor in the contest
6 – William Woods recorded six steals in the contest
10 – Ray White had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the contest
5 – WWU hit five three-pointers in the contest
9 – The Owls had nine assists in the contest