FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team ended a three-game losing streak with a 79-74 victory over Freed-Hardeman University on Saturday afternoon in American Midwest Conference action.
 
The Owls were led by DaShaun Stark who had 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Darrien Dickey added 18 points and Brandon Vice rounded out the double-figure scores with 15. Dickey and Stark had 12 and 10 rebounds respectfully, as they collected a double-double.
 
WWU held the second leading scorer in the AMC, Marcus Baldwin to three points in the contest. He was averaging 19.4 points entering the contest.
 
WWU returns to action on Thursday, February 8th when they travel to St. Louis, Missouri to face Harris-Stowe State University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls offense looked to get out to a quick start as they scored the first four points of the contest and led 4-0. The lead did not last as the Lions scored the next seven points taking a 7-4 lead over WWU with 15:24 left in the half. During the 7-0 run for the Lions the Owls were held scoreless for a four-minute span.
 
WWU answered back with a 7-0 run of its own that was capped by a layup by Brian Enriquez. WWU led 11-7, with 13:07 left in the half. Following the run and a couple of trips of trading buckets, the Owls DaShaun Stark hit a three-pointer putting the Owls ahead, 18-12.
 
William Woods stretched the lead to eight, 22-14, a few minutes later after a bucket by Darrien Dickey. Freed-Hardeman came back and tied the game at 26-26 with 4:08 left in the half. WWU took the lead 28-26 after a put-back dunk by Dickey. Freed-Hardeman would tie the game one more time in the half before the Owls stretched its lead to six, 37-31, heading to halftime.
 
Opening the second half, the contest remained close and a three by Jalen Thompson trimmed the Owls lead down to two, 41-39. WWU grew the lead six before the Lions came back and trimmed the lead down to one, 49-48, after a three by Kortland Martin three.
 
After Martin's three, the Owls held the Lions scoreless for a four-minute span and WWU went on a 10-0 run. The run was capped by a Dickey layup and a dunk by Stark, that put the Owls head, 59-48, with 7:20 left in the contest. Three minutes later, WWU stretched its lead to 13, 63-50, after a layup by Brandon Vice.
 
WWU continued to lead by double-figures and the lead grew to 15, 68-53, after an old fashion three-point play by Dickey. Freed-Hardeman did not go away, as they slowly chipped away at the Owls lead. A three by Martin put the Lions down nine, 76-67, with 41 seconds left in the game. The Owls continued to stretch the lead back to ten. Freed-Hardeman hit back to back threes to end the game and the Owls came away with a 79-74 victory over the Lions.
 
By the Numbers
29 – DaShaun Stark led the Owls with 29 points
3 – WWU had three players score in double-figures
2 – The Owls had two players, Darrien Dickey and Stark, collect double-doubles
2-for-17 – WWU shot 2-for-17 on three pointers in the contest
46.4 – William Woods shot 46.4 percent from the floor in the game
11 – The Owls committed 11 turnovers in the victory
10 – WWU dished out 10 assists
42 – The Owls dominated in the paint as they scored 42 points in the paint