COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a sluggish start, the William Woods University men's basketball team shot 46 percent in the second half to erase an eight-point halftime deficit as the Owls defeated No. 3 Columbia College, 65-57, on Saturday afternoon.
 
Leading the way for the Owls was Trey Mitchell. Mitchell scored a career-high 31 points against the Cougars. DaShaun Stark followed with 12 to round out the double-figure scorers for the Owls. WWU shot 33.3 percent from the floor for the contest.
 
The win for the Owls is its second ever victory over Columbia. Its only other victory against Columbia came on January 22, 2009.
 
The Owls will return to action on Thursday, March 2nd when they play in the AMC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Owls will find out at 7:30 p.m. tonight on who they play.
 
Game Flow
WWU and Columbia were locked in a highly contested defensive battle in the first half of the contest. Three minutes into the contest, Trey Mitchell hit a three-pointer putting the Owls ahead 7-4. WWU's following the shot the Owls offense struggled as they only made six field goals in the first half.
 
With the game tied at 19-19, the Cougars went on a 10-2 run taking a 29-21 lead with 1:22 left in the first half. WWU kept the game within eight points, 31-23, at halftime.
 
WWU came out in the second half and continued to battle a Mitchell three the Owls trailed 31-26. WWU continued to keep it close and with 16:47 left in the contest, WWU trailed 38-29. A minute later, Mitchell knocked down a three-pointer putting the Owls down six, 38-32.
 
William Woods continued to battle and after a bucket for Klayton Kuschel put the Owls down two, 42-40. Thirty seconds later, Kuschel hit another bucket tying the game at 42-42, with 11:34 left in the contest.
 
William Woods took the lead on a DaShaun Stark three-pointer put the Owls ahead, 10:05 left in the contest. After the three-pointer by Stark, the Owls did not trail again in the contest. WWU slowly built its lead to seven points, 54-47, with 7:09 left in the contest.
 
Columbia cut the lead down to one, 54-53, but the Owls responded and continued to hold onto the lead. WWU extended the lead to five, 58-53, with 3:27 left in the contest.
 
William Woods closed the game 7-2 run to end the game claiming the win, 65-57, for the second victory over Columbia in Owls program history.
 
By The Numbers
31 – Trey Mitchell led the Owls with 31 points in the contest
33.3 – WWU shot 33.3 percent from the floor in the contest
9 – Klayton Kuschel led the Owls with nine rebounds
12 – WWU had 12 assists in the contest
12 – DaShaun Stark was the only other double-figure scorer for the Owls with 12 points
7 – The Owls recorded seven blocks in the contest
21 – William Woods made 21 free throws in the contest
6 – WWU hit six three pointers in the contest