MARTIN, Tenn. - Less than 48 hours removed from a statement win over NCAA Division II Lincoln University, William Woods (7-4 overall) squared off against an NCAA Division I UT-Martin (7-6) squad that advanced to the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference semifinals. Despite a five-hour roadtrip for a mid-afternoon tipoff, the Owls dominated the Skyhawks for much of the first half and were inches away from forcing overtime in a 78-75 exhibition loss.
Nate Schwartze led Woods with 21 points, one of four players in double figures for the visitors.
The Skyhawks won the opening tap, but Woods forced tough looks for UTM, as the hosts missed their first three field goal attempts. Schwartze knocked down a triple and
Henry Shannon III added a fast break layup to put the Owls up 5-0 early, with WWU leading through the first media timeout.
Martin was able to nibble back and take the lead with 14:21 left in the half, as David Kamwanga converted a pair of free throws to put the Skyhawks up 11-10. A Kenny White Jr., jumper marked UTM's biggest lead of the half, a 22-16 margin at the 10:17 mark, but
Tre Titus immediately responded for Woods, knocking down a triple on the ensuing possession, then drawing contact on a made jumper after rebounding a miss by White.
Titus wasn't able to complete the three-point play, but made up for it in short order, picking Jalen Myers's pocket and feeding Shannon on the break for a 23-22 Owls lead. Another steal - this time by Shannon - led to a fastbreak trey by Schwartze, forcing a 30-second timeout by UTM.
The Skyhawks were able to settle and eventually retake the lead at 27-26, but a three-pointer by
Francis Okwuosah at the 5:07 mark tied the game at 29-29 and sparked a 17-3 run for Woods to end the half. Only a buzzer-beating three by Justus Jackson kept the Skyhawks within single digits at halftime, with WWU leading 43-35.
After the break, UTM was able to slowly carve into WWU's lead, finally tying the game at 46-46 with 14:48 left.
The lead ping-ponged back and forth for the next 13 minutes and change, with neither team able to build a lead beyond two possessions. Woods led by as many as four over the span - 53-49 and 55-51 just under the 12-minute mark - while UTM's biggest margin was a 65-62 edge at 6:35.
As the clock approached the 1:00 mark, Shannon put the Owls in front 75-73, drawing contact on a layup and converting the three-point play with 1:12 left.
On the next possession for UTM, Shannon was a beat late on rotating into a help defense and was whistled for a foul on Jordan Sears. Sears hit both free throws to tie the game at 75-75 with 57.2 seconds on the clock.
Woods tried to find a seam in the Skyhawk defense, but to no avail. Shannon drove into the lane, the ball was knocked out of his hands but quickly recovered by
Jared Crutcher. With no options, Shannon was forced to pass back to Schwartze.
With 2.6 seconds on the shot clock, Schwartze threw a pump fake that was bit on by both of the UTM defenders that were converging on him. As he tried to get the shot off, both defenders clattered into him but neither was whistled for a foul.
Instead, Jacob Crews - one of the defenders that had clattered into Schwartze - was able to collect the loose ball and knock down an easy layup.
After a Skyhawk timeout, Woods had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a well-read pass by Sebastian Mendoza snuffed the first chance, forcing a quick foul by
Gacoby Jones Jr. in transition. Mendoza was unable to shut the door, missing the first free throw, and head coach
Jordan Ashton called a timeout immediately after the second.
With 6.1 seconds on the clock, the Owls inbounded to Jones and raced down court. Jones launched a pull-up jumper with 4.1 on the clock, but his effort was an inch short and hit off the front rim and out.
After a hot-shooting first half (16-31), Woods cooled to a 43.5 percent (27-62) mark for the game, with UTM shooting a steady 46.15 percent (25-56) from the floor. WWU made 11 threes to just seven for the Skyhawks, but sent UTM to the free throw 27 times on the night, with the home team knocking down 21.
The Owls are off until the new year, with the team's AMC opener awaiting. WWU tips off against Hannibal-LaGrange at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, inside the newly refreshed Anderson Arena.
