NORTH NEWTON, KAN. – The William Woods University men's basketball team captured their first win of the season Saturday night as they defeated Bethel College 83-69. WWU shot 40.3% from the field 31.6% from three-point range and 69.7% from the foul line.
 
Austin Curry was the high point man tonight as he scored 27 pts on 11-17 shooting and finished with 11 rebs. David Johnson Jr.  followed with 12 pt and Treshawn Gause scored 11 pts in the contest.
 
WWU return to action Friday, November 2^nd as they face Grand View University in their first game of the Columbia College Classic. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at Columbia College Mo.
 
Game Flow
The Owls were the first to get on the board with a fast-break bucket coming from Curry. Bethel quickly responded on their own fast-break coming from Jaylon Scott and tying the game 2-2.
 
A three pointer by Jalal Gondal put the Threshers up 7-3. William Woods would regain the lead with a big two-point lay-in from Makenzie Fessler that put the Owls ahead 13-10
 
Midway through the first half, Bethel gained a 21-15 lead over the Owls when Scott connected for a lay-in. A few seconds later, Trey Sleep knocked down a three-pointer and increased the Threshers lead to 21-15
 
With 6-minutes reaming in the first half, WWU tied the game 24-24 when Curry knocked down a midrange jumpshot.
 
In the final seconds of the half, Curry's three-pointer found the bottom of the net and put the Owls ahead 37-30. Ahmed Fall hit a free throw for Bethel late in the first half, but the Threshers were still down 37-31 going into halftime.
 
Returning from halftime, William Woods looked to increase their lead. 23-seconds into the second half, Jason Walker knocked down a three-point shot and pushed the Owls lead to 40-31.
 
 
At the 15-minute mark William Woods found themselves ahead 50-38.  Bethel was finally able to get within eight of the Owls when Dakota Foster knocked down a free-throw. But it would not be enough to slow down WWU as they were able to push the lead out to 70-55.
 
A two-pointer coming from Fall got Bethel back within 10 but would shortly find themselves back down 12 with a two-pointer coming from Curry. Immediately following Curry' bucket was David Johnson who connected on a strong post-up lay-in.
 
The Threshers were able to get within 13 of the Owls but could not get over the hump and would fall to WWU 83-69.
 
By the Number
1 – WWU wins their first game of the season
4 – 4 Owls players had a double-digit scoring night
8 – Makenzie Fessler snatched down 8 rebs
9 – WWU had 9 players score in the contest
11 – Austin Curry led the Owls with 11rebs in the contest
11 – The Owls had 11 second chance points
15 – WWU scored 15 points off of turnovers
27 – Austin Curry led WWU with 27 pts
40.3% - William Woods shot 40.3% from the field