FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball suffered its first loss of the season at Anderson Arena on Tuesday evening when the Indians of Haskell Indian Nations University defeated the Owls, 79-76.
 
Darrien Dickey led the Owls with 22 and nine rebounds on the game. DaShaun Stark and Shamari Denson followed with 14 points each and Ray White rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points. WWU shot 52.7 from the floor in the contest.
 
WWU returns to action on Thursday, November 30th when they host Missouri Baptist University at Anderson Arena in AMC action. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls came out and scored the first four points of the contest as Darrien Dickey scored the first four points. After a three by Bryon Elledge the Owls went up by three, 6-3, before Haskell tied the game on a three-pointer. After it was tied the Owls scored the next five points, 11-6, capped by a Shamari Denson three-pointer.
 
WWU continued to lead by five points and after another Dickey jumper the Owls led 18-13, with 9:48 left in the first half. Haskell continued to battle and a three by Jimell Tate put Haskell down two, 20-18. WWU stretched its lead to six points, 24-18.
 
WWU stretched its lead back to five points multiple times and after a jumper by Dickey in the paint, the Owls led 30-25 with 4:22 left in the half. That would be the Owls final basket until there was 29 seconds left in the first half. Haskell closed out the first half on a 10-2 run and Haskell led the Owls 35-32 at halftime.
 
William Woods came out in the second half and scored the first four points, layups by Stark and Dickey taking a one-point lead, 36-35. This would be the Owls last lead until there was 3:54 left in the contest. Haskell came back and took a lead of six, 46-40, after a Jimell Tate three-pointer.
 
WWU trimmed the lead down to three points before Haskell hit a three-pointer and a pair of free throws putting the Indians ahead by eight, 51-43. WWU answered back going on a 9-2 run and trimmede the lead down to one, 53-52, with 9:52 left in the contest.
 
Haskell answered right back and extended its lead back to eight points, 67-59. The Owls slowly chipped away as Ray White and Brian Enriquez hit three-pointers and Denson hit a free throw and the Owls were down one, 67-66. Brandon Vice hit a free throw tying the game at 67-67 and Dickey put the Owls ahead 69-67, with a jumper in the paint.
 
The Indians did not go away as they answered each of the Owls shots and with 2:23 left in the contest, led the Owls 73-71. Denson tied the game up with 1:07 left in the game. On the next possession for Haskell, A'Ram Johnson hit a three pointer and was fouled. He made the free throw putting Haskell ahead by four, 77-73.
 
Dickey came back and scored on the next trip down for WWU putting the Owls down two, 77-75. Running out of time, the Owls fouled Tristan Keah-Tigh and he missed both free throws. Stark drove to the basket and got fouled. He had a pair of free throws looking to tie the game. However, he only made one and the Owls trailed by one, 77-76.
 
Again, the Owls fouled forcing Haskell to shoot free throws and Keith Moore hit a pair and Haskell led by three, 79-76, with 10 seconds remaining in the game. WWU had one more shot as White had a good look at a three by the shot came up short and the Owls were defeated by Haskell, 79-76.
 
By the Numbers
4 – WWU had four players score in double figures
22 – Darrien Dickey led the Owls with 22 points
7 – The Owls hit seven three-pointers
9 – Darrien Dickey led the Owls with nine rebounds
13 – WWU dished out 13 assists in the contest
52.7 – William Woods shot 52.7 percent from the floor
14 – The Owls committed 14 turnovers in the contest