HENDERSON, Tenn. – The William Woods University men's basketball team had a trio lead the Owls past Freed-Hardeman University, 67-64, on Saturday afternoon in American Midwest Conference action.
 
Leading the trio was WWU senior Brandon Vice who scored 19 points in the victory. Darrien Dickey and Shad Kimble followed with 18 points and 15 points, respectfully to round out the double-figure scorers for the Owls. WWU shot 36.8 percent from the floor.
 
The Owls return to action on Thursday, December 28th when they host Harris-Stowe State University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
 
Game Flow
The Owls and Lions offenses came out struggling to score as over the first four minute of the contest the Owls and Lions combined for seven points, where WWU led 5-2. Freed-Hardeman came back taking a 7-5 lead after a three by Jalen Thompson with 15:32 left in the half.
 
The Owls trailed 9-6 before a Shad Kimble three pointer tied the game at 9-9. The lead continued to trade hands and with the Owls down four, 14-10, Brandon Vice hit a three-pointer putting the Owls down one, 14-13, with 9:12 left in the first half.
 
Freed-Hardeman slowly grew its lead to six, 21-15, after a Marcus Baldwin jumper. The Owls locked down on the defensive end and for the next five minutes held the Lions scoreless. During the stretch, the Owls scored seven straight, and a layup by Darrien Dickey put the Owls ahead, 22-21. WWU and the Lions traded baskets and Baldwin put the Lions up two, 26-24, heading into halftime.
 
Freed-Hardeman stretched its lead to five to open the second half as Simon Fransis hit a three-pointer. WWU responded by scoring the next seven points taking a 31-29 lead after a Shad Kimble three. After Kimble's three, the Owls Dickey hit a layup and Kimble hit another three putting the Owls ahead, 36-32, with 14:41 left in the game.
 
WWU continued to hold a lead and leading by two, 38-36, Makenzie Fessler hit a jumper putting the Owls back ahead by four. WWU held onto the lead until Marcus Baldwin hit a jumper putting the Lions ahead, 43-42, with 10:06 left in the contest.
 
The lead would go back and forth over the next five minutes of action. A jumper by Baldwin grew the Lions lead to three, 55-52. The Lions extended its lead to eight, 62-54, after an Ehab Eltayeb jumper. With 2:46 left the Owls started chipping away at the Lions lead. Over the next 46 seconds, the Owls had the lead down to three, 62-59, after a three by Brian Enriquez.
 
WWU took the lead with 33 seconds left when Vice scored on a jumper putting the Owls ahead, 64-62. William Woods grew the lead to 66-62 with 13 seconds left after Dickey hit a pair of free throws. Baldwin hit a pair of free throws taking the Owls lead down to two, 66-64. Baldwin's points were the first points for the Lions since Eltayeb jumper with 2:46 left in the contest.
 
With 13 seconds left, Enriquez was fouled, and he went one for two at the line putting the Owls ahead by three, 67-64. The Lions had two opportunities to tie the game, but they missed the threes, and Baldwin had a two pointer at the buzzer, but DaShaun Stark blocked the shot and the Owls came away with a 67-64 victory.  
 
By the Numbers
19 – Brandon Vice led the Owls with 19 points
11 – Darrien Dickey led WWU with 11 rebounds
2 – Brandon Vice and Darrien Dickey both had double-doubles in the contest
6 – WWU hit six three pointers in the win
19 – The Owls made 19 free throws in the win
10 – William Woods dished out 10 assists
18 – Darrien Dickey scored 18 points for WWU
15 – WWU forced the Lions into 15 turnovers