BOLIVAR, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team faced NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist in an exhibition contest Monday mid-morning. The Owls fell to the Bearcats, 71-55.

The Owls play their final exhibition contest of the season on Sunday, Dec. 30, at Missouri State University. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Shad Kimble scored a three on the Owl's first possession of the game to take a 3-0 lead a minute in. SBU answered with a 10-0 run over the next two and a half minutes to take a 10-3 lead.

SBU took a 13-point lead just shy of halfway through the first half, but back-to-back jump shots from Jessie Frost-Dixon cut the game back to single digits.

Jason Walker continued the Owl's run with a three, followed by two good free throws from Shad Kimble following a technical foul to bring the Owls within four, 21-17.

 A dunk from David Johnson Jr. brought the Owls back within three with 4:37 to play in the first half after SBU pushed back an eight-point lead.

After a layup from SBU, two good free throws from Johnson Jr. brought the Owls within three with 2:14 on the clock, 27-24. The points ended up being the last of the half for the Owls, sending the game into halftime with the Bearcats leading 31-24.

Just minutes into the second half, SBU took up a double-digit lead.

Consecutive buckets from Codi Whitlock put the Owls within seven with 12:13 on the clock, but SBU quickly pushed back a double-digit lead with a 10-0 run.

Brian Enriquez halted the Owl's silence with back-to-back threes, but the team was unable to bring the game within single digits again.
 
By The Numbers
8 – Shad Kimble, David Johnson Jr. and Matt Burgess led the team with eight points apiece.
5 – Austin Curry recorded a team-high five rebounds. Jessie Frost-Dixon and Shad Kimble added in four each.
4 – Keyaire Marshall dished up four a floor-high four assists.
2 – Codi Whitlock had two blocks and two steals in the exhibition game.