FULTON, Mo. – Hosting the American Midwest Conference Championship game for the first time in program history, the William Woods University men's basketball team struggled on the offensive end as they shot 38 percent in an 80-56 loss to Harris-Stowe State University.
 
Leading the way for the Owls was Deon Pettigrew who scored 20 points. DaShaun Stark followed scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Trey Mitchell followed with 15 points to round out the double-figure scorers for the Owls. Torin Washingon led the Owls with eight rebounds. On the offensive end, WWU struggled scoring as they shot 38 percent for the contest and were 4-of-19 from behind the arc in the contest.
 
William Woods will now wait and see if they will receive an at-large selection into the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. The Owls will learn their fate at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 8th when the NAIA announces the National Championship field.
 
Game Flow
Points were few and far between to open the AMC Championship between the Owls and the Hornets. DaShaun Stark hit a three pointer, one-of-four for the game, 15 seconds into the contest putting WWU ahead 3-0. After the three, the Owls and Hornets did not score again until 15:31 left in the half when Stark hit his second three of the contest.
 
William Woods grew the lead to 10-4 after a jumper by Deon Pettigrew with 12:31 left in the half. After trailing by six, Harris-Stowe's offense startled to heat up as back to back threes by Julian Clarkson put the Hornets ahead 14-13.
 
Both teams would trade leads the rest of the half and a jumper by Craig Davila Jr. with five seconds left in the half tied the game at 28-28 heading to halftime.
 
The Owls offense remained cold to open the second half and the Hornets continued to heat up. Over the first six minutes of the half, Harris-Stowe opened the half on a 18-4 run. The only points for the Owls during the stretch was on four free throws by Trey Mitchell after the Hornets were called for two technical fouls.
 
Midway through the second half a three pointer by Trevor Roberts put the Hornets ahead 58-42. WWU continued to try to chip away at the Hornets lead down to 12 points after a Pettigrew three-pointer. However, the Owls would not get any closer and the Hornets grew  the lead to 24 points, 80-556, to claim the AMC Championship over the Owls.
 
By the Numbers
20 – Deon Pettigrew scored 20 points in the championship contest
3 – WWU had three players score in double-figures
38.2 – William Woods shot 38.2 percent from the floor on the day
4-of-19 – The Owls struggled hitting the three-point shot as they were 4-of-19
17 – William Woods committed 17 turnovers in the contest
20 – WWU's bench scored 20 points in the contest
52.8 – Harris-Stowe shot 52.8 percent from the floor in the contest