FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team upset No.6 Columbia Thursday night 76-56. WWU moves to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the AMC.
 
Shad Kimble knocked down 7 three pointers and led the game in scoring with 23 points. Austin Curry followed with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
 
The Owls return to action Saturday, Dec. 1^st when they take on RV Missouri Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
 
Game Flow
Columbia was the first to strike a punch getting out to an early 3-0 lead. William Woods finally responded with a two point basket from Treshawn Gause. Immediately following Gause's basket. Makenzie Fessler put the Owls ahead 5-3 after hitting a three pointer. The Cougars regained a 6-3 lead with a three point basket of their own coming from Desmond Funches.
 
Midway through the first half, Kimble knocked down her first three pointer of the night and put WWU ahead 15-11. Exactly 1-minute later, Kimble knocked down another three point basket that stretched the Owls lead to 18-11.
 
With momentum picking up for William Woods, Aaron Brookins added fuel to the fire as he knocked down a two point bucket that put WWU ahead 20-11. Brrokins provided a spark of the bench for the Owls as he finished with 9 points.
 
After failing behind, Columbia was finally able to slow down WWU when Funches scored a two point basket in the paint that put the Cougars behind 20-13. But William Woods quickly responded with a strong put back dunk from Jessie Frost-Dixon and put the Owls back up nine.
 
With 10:27 remaining in the half, Jason Walker broke out for a fast break lay-in and pushed the WWU lead to 24-13.
 
Down 16 with 8-minutes remaining in the first half, Braden Wendel scored a two point basket on a Columbia break that put them behind 30-16. The Owls quickly responded with another three point basket from Kimble that pushed the William Woods lead to 33-16.
 
At the 5:55 mark, Curry knocked down a huge three point basket that put WWU ahead 38-18.
 
The Cougars went on a small run, but it would not be enough to slow the Owls down as Brookins hit another three pointer for WWU that put them ahead 41-24.
 
In the final seconds of the half, Curry connected for a lay-up and sent WWU into halftime ahead 46-28.
 
After a slow first half, Columbia returned from the half looking to get back into the game. In the opening seconds of the second half, Thibault Benabid scored in the paint and put the Cougars down 46-30.
 
William Woods guard, Gause knocked down two free throws and put the Owls up 18. 45-seconds later, David Johnson Jr. found room in the paint and put WWU up 50-30. Columbia tried to respond with a basket of their own but could not connect and William Woods capitalized on the opportunity as Kimble knocked down another three pointer putting WWU up 53-30.
 
A little over halfway through the half, Kimble knocked down another three point basket that put the Owls up 59-30.
 
Still fighting to get back into the game, Columbia's Adam Mennemeyer hit a three pointer that put the Cougars down 59-33.
 
With 6-minutes remaining in the game, Columbia was able to get within 17 of the Owls when Mennemeyer finished strong in the paint.
 
William Woods quickly regained their 20 point lead when Fessler hit a three pointer in the corner that gave WWU a 72-52 advantage.
 
Funshes scored the finally two points for the Cougars with 3:46 remaining.
 
With 1:30 remaining in the game, Curry finger rolled his way to the basket and put the Owls up 76-56.
 
William Woods dribbled out the remainder of the clock and walked away with a 76-56 upset.
 
By the Numbers
1^st – WWU captures first AMC Conference win
4 – Shad Kimble, Austin Curry and Treshawn Gause each dished out 4 assists
7 – Shad Kimble hit 7 three pointers in the contest
9 – Mackenzie Fessler led the Owls with 9 rebounds
12 – Austin Curry scored 12 points in the contest
23 – Shad Kimble led the game with 23 points
41% - William Woods shot 43% from three point range
43% - The Owls shot 43% from the field
78% - WWU shot 78% from the foul line