FULTON, Mo. – William Woods University men's basketball played their final game of the 2018 season Thursday night as they fell 58-50 to Central Baptist in the quarterfinals of the American Midwest Conference Tournament. The Owls finished 18-12 overall and 15-7 in the AMC.
 
David Johnson Jr. led the WWU with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Treshawn Gause followed with 11 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds. Shad Kimble chipped in 9 while Brian Enriquez scored 8 in the contest.
 
Game Flow
Central Baptist opened the game in full attack mode. 7-minutes into the first half them found themselves ahead 11-7. They continued their excellent play and was able to push their lead to 20-8.
 
Finally, after a slow first half start, William Woods got into double digit scoring on two Kimble free throws. Shortly after Enriquez was fouled and sent to the line as well where he finished 2-2 on cut the deficit to 20-12 with 7-minutes left in the first half.
 
 Down eight, Codi Whitlock was able to find the bottom of the net and bring WWU within 6. But the Mustangs would quickly respond with a three-pointer coming from Yberson Augustin.
 
The Owls kept chipping away at the Mustangs lead, but could only get within 10 before falling behind 31-17.
 
In the final seconds of the first half, Gause snuck through the lane for a tough lay-up and put William Woods down 31-19 going into halftime.
 
After a lopsided first half, WWU scored the first points of the half when Johnson Jr. found the bottom of the net on his two-point basket. But the hot shooting of the Mustangs continued as they regained a 34-21 lead on a Tyrone Alston three-pointer.
 
Central Baptist was able to maintain a double digit lead up until the 13:38 mark when Gause connected on a fast break floater and put WWU down 41-32. He would score again 3.5-minutes later on another fast break and put the Owls down 7.
 
With William Woods slowly approaching, the Mustangs scored back-to-back baskets putting them back up 9 with 7-minutes remaining.
At the 6:19 mark, CBC's Percell Washington made a nice move to the basket and gave them a 49-36 lead.
 
Kimble responded immediately by knocking down a huge three-pointer that put the Owls down 10. 30-seconds later Gause scored once again on a fast break lay-up and put WWU within 8 of Central Baptist.
 
With a little under 4-minutes remaining, Johnson Jr. knocked down two big free throws that put William Woods behind 49-44.
 
Washington would stretch the CBC lead back out to 7 when he connected on a strong basket in the paint. But the Owls would not disappear, with 1:12 on the clock Kimble knocked down another three-point basket and put WWU down 51-47.
 
Mustangs guard Jalen Adams would respond with a three pointer of his own and give CBC a 7 point lead.
 
In the final seconds, the Owls were forced to foul and send both Washington and Alston to the line where they both went 2-2 and giving them a 58-50 lead.
 
WWU attempted one last play but could not get anything off. Central Baptist walked away with a 58-57 American Midwest Conference Tournament quarterfinals victory.
 
 
By the Numbers
0.70% – WWU shot 70% from the foul line
4 – Treshawn Gause led with 4 assists in the contest
8 – David Johnson Jr. led the Owls with 8 rebounds
9 – Shad Kimble chipped in 9 points
11 – Gause has 11 points on the night
14 – William Woods commited 14 turnovers
15 – Johnson Jr. led WWU with 15 points