FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 season on Saturday, October 26, as they host Bethel College (Kan.). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
 
About Bethel
The Threshers come into the contest after finishing 15-15 overall and 10-14 in the KCAC. Their season came to an end when they fell 91-69 to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the quarterfinals of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Bethel returns KCAC All-Conference Third Team selection sophomore Jaylon Scott.  As a freshman, he was second on the team in scoring, putting up 12.9ppg. He shot 43% from the field and 32% from the three-point line.  Scott finished his 2018-19 campaign with five Top 25 national rankings. He was 6^th overall in defensive rebounds per game (8), 8^th overall in rebounds per game (10.2), 9^th overall in total rebounds (308), 15^th overall in total steals (59), and 16^th overall in steals per game (2). On December 12, 2018, he scored a career-high 23 points in a win over Ottawa (Kan.).

The Threshers also return KCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention selection Dakota Foster. He enters his senior season coming of a team high 15.1ppg last season. During his junior year he shot 46% from the field and 37% from the three-point line. Foster also led Bethel in free-throw percentage shooting an efficient 76%. On November 17, 2018 he scored a career high 27 points against York (Neb.).

This will also be the season-opener for Bethel.
 
About William Woods
The Owls enter the season coming off a 18-12 overall and 15-7 AMC finish. Their 2018-19 season was cut short in the opening round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament when they fell 58-50 to Central Baptist.

Head Coach Charles Belt will have his debut as the new coach for the Owls in Saturday's competition. He comes to WWU after spending six seasons with NCAA DII Northern Michigan. He helped end an 11-year post-season drought by getting the Wildcats to the GLIAC semi-finals game. He will be looking for his first win as an Owls as well as a head coach against Bethel.

WWU returns senior point guard and Third Team All-AMC selection Treshawn Gause. As a junior, he averaged 11ppg and led the Owls with 124 total assists. He scored a career-high 21 points against both Freed-Hardeman and Lindenwood-Belleville.  He finished the season with three national rankings: 28^th overall in assist per game (4.1), 29^th overall in total assists (124) and 46^th overall in free throw percentage (79%).

William Woods also returns Makenzie Fessler. During his sophomore campaign, Fessler averaged 8.2ppg and provided huge minutes for the Owls. He also averaged 6.3rpg and had a team-high 188 total rebounds at the end of the season.  On January 31, 2018, he scored a career-high 17 points against Freed-Hardeman. In that same game, he also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.

History Between William Woods and Bethel 
This will be the second contest between the Owls and the Threshers. The first game between these two took place on Oct. 27, 2018 when William Woods defeated Bethel 83-69 at the Columbia College Classic. Austin Curry led the Owls with 28 points.

WWU will be looking for their second straight victory over Bethel in Saturday's contest.