OSKALOOSA, IA. – The William Woods University men's basketball team lost their second straight game Saturday night 82-77 to No. 2 William Penn. The Owls lead majority of the game, but let it get away from them in the final minutes of regulation.
 
Austin Curry finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while David Johnson Jr. also finished with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Jessie Frost-Dixon chipped in 10 points and 4 rebounds in the contest.
 
Game flow
William Woods was the first team to put points on the board with a two point finish from Johnson Jr. William Peen quickly responded with a two point basket of their own coming from Shamar Bailey-Decoteau.
 
The Owls responded with a three point basket coming from Makenzie Fessler that pushed WWU ahead 5-2.
 
Immediately following the three pointer from William Woods, the Statesmen connected on a two point lay-in from Omar Sherman that sparked a 3-0 run and put William Penn ahead 7-5. The Owls were quickly able to tie the game when Johnson Jr. scored in the paint for WWU.
 
Both teams battled back in forth majority of the first half with neither team able to get a lead. Finally, with 8:17 remaining in the first half, William Woods went ahead 26-21 when Shad Kimble knocked down a midrange shot.
 
With 1-minute remaining in the first half, Frost-Dixon broke out for a fast break lay-in and gave the Owls a 38-32 lead. William Penn responded moments later with a three point bucket from Marlon Alcindor and put the Statesmen down 38-35.
 
Moments after scoring on the break, Frost-Dixon found the bottom of the net once again with a strong lay-in and put the Owls ahead 40-36 going into halftime.
 
With momentum on their side, William Woods opened the second half getting out to a 53-41 lead over the Statesmen.
 
William Penn was finally able to slow the Owls run down, with a layup coming from Nick Fullard. 6-minutes into the second half, The Statesmen were able to get within single digits of WWU when Abrian Edwards knocked down a three pointer and put William Penn behind 55-46.
 
Exactly 1-minute after the Edwards three, Darius Wheeler knocked down a three point basket of his own and put the Owls lead at 55-49.
 
Midway through the second half, Mario Manuel converted on his two point shot attempt and put the Statesmen down 58-55.
 
After allowing William Penn to go on a run, William Woods was finally able to slow things down when Treshawn Gause connected on a layup that went high of the glass and gave WWU a 60-55 cushion.
 
But The Statesmen would not go away as Manuel made two back to back layups and put William Penn down 60-59.
 
In the final 3-minutes of action, Sherman was able to tie the game 70-70 by connecting on both his attempts at the line.
 
The Owls looked to regain the lead, with a Kimble three pointer that hit of the rim and was rebounded by The Statesmen who responded with a three point basket of their own from Alcindor and put William Penn ahead 73-70.
 
Alcindor would hit another three pointer that put William Penn ahead 77-70 with 1:12 remaining on the clock. But Owls guard Curry quickly responded for WWU with a three of his own that put William Woods behind 73-77.
 
The Owls would fight hard to come back, but two free throws from William Penn's Fullard put a stamp on the game and The Statesmen would go on to win 81-77.
 
By the Numbers
7 – The Owls knocked down all 7 attempts at the foul line in the first half
12 – William Woods had 12 turnovers in the contest
11 – Curry snatched down 11rebs. In the game
21 – Austin Curry and David Johnson Jr. led the Owls with 21pts
83% - WWU shot 82% from the foul line for the game