FULTON, Mo. -
D'Mari Wiltz looked like a chef Saturday at Anderson Arena, breaking No. 22 William Woods University's (15-2, 7-1 American Midwest Conference) single-game assists record by dishing out 13 and adding 11 points, eight rebounds and a co-game-high three steals for his first double-double as an Owl. That was one of many tremendous displays in WWU's comfortable 99-58 triumph over Mission University (6-10, 4-5), as the Owls extended their program-record winning streak to 10 games and nearly notched their third 100-point game of the season for the first time in school history.
While Wiltz cooked,
Henry Shannon III brought his showmanship for WWU with a game-high five dunks for 10 of his college career-high 24 points (11-14 field goals, 2-2 free throws). Shannon's previous college-best points tally was his 23-point outing for the now-defunct Iowa Wesleyan University in an 81-58 victory at Valley City State University on Nov. 19, 2022. Additionally, Shannon registered five rebounds and a co-game-high three steals.
One of the best players in the nation also shined. Owls forward Francis Okwusoah, recently named to the top 100 players to watch for the
Bevo Francis Award — given to the best overall player among NAIA and NCAA Division II-III levels — posted his team-best seventh double-double this season with 16 points (7-14 field goals and two 3-pointers) and 15 boards. And last but not least of the four WWU hoopers scoring double figures,
Tre Titus drained a season-high four triples for 12 of his 16 points and tacked on three rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
"We struggled to start the game and allowed them to be too comfortable," William Woods men's basketball coach
Jordan Ashton said. "Once we really locked in, we were much better and played well off that momentum."
The Patriots led by as much as four points at 11-7 and tied it for the last time at 20 with 8:56 left in the first half. Then, the Owls zoned into playing how they should and fired up a 13-2 run in the quick span of 1:42 to go up by double digits for the first time. Titus began that stretch with back-to-back 3-pointers - the first from a Wiltz assist and the second off an Okwuosah steal and assist. Then, Shannon put down his first slam dunk before
Ahlante Askew stole it from Mission and passed it to Shannon, who made a layup for his second straight bucket. Mr. Owl, Okwuosah, collected a defensive board and landed a 3 provided by Wiltz to send WWU ahead 33-22 with 6:41 remaining before halftime.
Pilling on to their lead, the Owls scored a dozen points without response to take the first of their two most significant leads in the first half at 52-25. Shannon recorded half of WWU's points during that period and had three rebounds and a steal, while Wiltz notched four points, a steal and an assist. Titus and Okwuosah were also involved in the run, with Titus pickpocketing a Patriots pass before lobbing it to Okwuosah, whose rim-shaking jam gave the Owls their first 27-point lead with :45 until halftime. Titus handed WWU its second 27-point advantage (54-27) of the half on his putback layup with :03 remaining.
The Owls didn't let up in the second half, taking their first 30-point lead at 64-34 with 13:06 left when
Kevin Taylor rattled the rim for a dunk on Wiltz's eighth assist of the contest. When did Wiltz make history? Wiltz put his name into the record book with 4:53 on the scoreboard, tossing the rock to
Jack Wetzel, who evaded a few Patriots and got his layup to fall to increase the Owls' lead to 90-54. Soon after that, William Woods PA announcer Zac Leffler shared the news of Wiltz's single-game assists record - previously held by Jamal Herriott, who had 12 assists against Harris-Stowe State University on Jan. 17, 2009 - as the jam-packed Anderson Arena crowd congratulated the Owls' No. 4. Speaking of four, the Owls times that number by 10, going up by 40 points for the first time, 96-56, on Askew's 3-pointer provided by
Jacob LaBounty with 1:59 left. Just over a minute later, Askew sent Woods ahead by its widest margin, 41 points, finishing the game's scoring with an inside bucket off a Wetzel steal with :42 left.
The Owls collected 47 rebounds (13 offensive) with 16 second-chance points, scored 16 points off 17 forced turnovers and shot 51.9% (40-77) from the field, 35.3% (12-34) from 3-point range and 77.8% (7-9) from the free-throw line; they also had a season-high 14 steals, WWU's most since its 15 at Westminster College on Nov. 25, 2023. The Patriots posted 32 boards (seven offensive) with four second-chance points, tallied five points off 10 forced turnovers and converted 38.7% (24-62) from the field, 20.8% (5-24) from deep and 45.5% (5-11) from the charity stripe.
"We need to continue to focus on us," Ashton said. "Focus on the process, focus on getting better each day and not let up."
An enticing matchup is up next for William Woods as it looks to avenge its lone AMC loss on the season when it hosts No. 17 Central Baptist College (14-3, 8-0 AMC) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Through the halfway point of the AMC regular season, the Owls and Columbia College have come the closest to beating the Mustangs; WWU lost 80-76 at CBC on Nov. 21, and the Cougars fell 85-81 to the Mustangs Thursday in Columbia.
"Big time game on Thursday, against a team that beat us earlier in the year," Ashton said. "We need to be ready to go."
