BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Senior DaShaun Stark scored a game-high 29 points as he led the William Woods University men's basketball team to an 84-80 victory over Lindenwood University – Belleville on Thursday evening. WWU had four players scorer in double-figures in the contest.
 
Stark was 8-for-18 from the floor in the contest and 12-for-15 from the free throw line. He led the Owls with 11 rebounds for a double-double. Darrien Dickey followed with 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Brian Enriquez scored 18 points and Makenzie Fessler scored 10 rounding out the double-figure scorers for the Owls. WWU shot 48.1 percent from the floor.
 
WWU returns to action on Thursday, January 4th when they host Central Baptist College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
 
Game Flow
The Owls and Lynx came out in the first half of the contest trading baskets in a low scoring first five minutes of the contest. With the Owls down, 4-2, Darrien Dickey tied the game at 4-4 with 16:52 left in the half. Each team scored three more points and the contest was tied at 7-7.
 
After the first five minutes of the contests, points started coming easier for both teams and a pair of free throws by Keyaire Marshall put the Owls ahead, 12-9. Lindenwood-Belleville answered by scoring the next five points taking a 14-12 lead over WWU with 9:59 left in the first half.
 
Codi Whitlock put the Owls ahead, 17-16, with a layup with 8:07 left in the half. After the layup, WWU did not trail the rest of the half. WWU stretched its lead to 26-19 after a Brian Enriquez three-pointer. Two minutes later, after a pair of free throws by DaShaun Stark, the Owls grew its lead to ten, 31-21, with 3:33 left in the half.
 
William Woods went cold for the final three minutes as they only scored two more points in the half and the Lynx scored eight points taking the Owls lead down to four, 33-29, heading to halftime.
 
Opening the second half the Lynx outscored the Owls in the first three minutes. WWU's four-point halftime lead was gone after Martavian Payne hit a pair of free throws tying the game at 37-37. Lindenwood-Belleville followed by matching Owls hoops and with 14:43 left in the contest was tied at 45-45.
 
William Woods regained the lead after a Makenzie Fessler three, the Owls extended its lead to five, 58-53, after a Darrien Dickey free throw. WWU continued to grow its lead and a jumper by Brian Enriquez in the paint put the Owls ahead by eight, 63-55, with 8:14 left in the game.
 
The lead did not last long for the Owls as a three-pointer by Payne tied the game at 65-65 with 6:05 remaining. Both teams would hold the lead over the final six minutes of action as Payne put the Lynx up 68-67. Fessler answered on the next trip down for the Owls with a three, putting WWU ahead 70-68.
 
After the three by Fessler, the Owls did not trail again. WWU led by three, 71-68, after a Stark free throw. Andrew Voss came down and hit two free throws trimming the Owls lead down to one, 71-70, which was the closest the Lynx would get for the remainder of the contest.
 
WWU stretched its lead to nine, 79-70, with 45 seconds left in the game after Stark hit a pair of free throws. The Lynx continued to battle and a three-point play by Payne trimmed the Owls lead down to two, 82-80, with 13 seconds left. Stark extended the lead back to four after a pair of free throws and a turnover by Larry Cotton ended the game. WWU defeated Lindenwood-Belleville, 84-80.
 
By the Numbers
4 – The Owls had four players score in double figures
29 – DaShaun Stark scored 29 points in the win
78 – Seventy-eight of the Owls 84 points were scored by starters
2 – William Woods, DaShaun Stark and Darrien Dickey, collected double-doubles
18 – WWU committed 18 turnovers in the contest
5 – The Owls had five steals in the game
48.1 – WWU shot 48.1 percent from the floor
7 – William Woods hit seven three-pointers in the win
4 – Brian Enriquez hit four three-pointers in the victory