BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The William Woods University men's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season at Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) Friday evening. After a strong first half performance, the Owls fell 77-68.
 
The Owls host Clarke University for their home-opener on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
By The Numbers
18 – Makenzie Fessler led the team with 18 points (7-15 FG).
14 – Nathan Schwartze put up 14 points in his Owls' debut (6-8 FG).
13 – Jared Crutcher pulled down 13 rebounds and was just one point shy of a double-double.
5 – Nathan Schwartze dished in five assists.
 
Game Highlights
A layup from Jared Crutcher followed by a three from Mike Robinson gave the Owls an early 5-2 lead. The Owls maintained the lead, and with 12:45 left to play in the first half, Andrew Nett drained a three to give the Owls a seven-point lead, 16-9.
 
A layup from Makenzie Fessler followed by a three from Nett gave the Owls a 14-point lead with 7:59 on the clock, 29-15.
 
ONU hit the Owls with a 12-2 run to cut the game to four with 4:42 to go, 31-27. A dunk from Crutcher ended their run, and Nathan Schwartze followed with a jumper to put the Owls back up by eight, 35-27.
 
Schwartze scored the final points of the half with a three to send the Owls into halftime with a 42-35 lead.
 
The Owls were held to just 11 points through the first 15 minutes of the second half while ONU put up 32, giving ONU a 14-point lead, 67-53.
 
Fessler scored nine in the final five minutes of play while Schwartze, Robinson and Spencer Yoggerst added two each for the Owls to close the gap to nine at the end of the Owls' season-opener, 77-68.