BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – Winning road games is always difficult and even more so in a team's own tournament, as the Mississippi University for Women found out during its men's basketball game at Blue Mountain College. After leading by as much as seven points in the first half, the Owls lost, 74-63, versus the host Toppers in the Johnnie Armstrong Classic finale.
 
"We talked about coming out and starting stronger out of the gate and we did," The W Head Coach Dean Burrows said. "We had some great ball movement in the first half and had nine assists to three turnovers going into the break. I think at times, when things don't go our way, we tend to get hung up on things and get stuck and revert back to not-ideal habits. We have to learn our 'next play' mentality."
 
With 8:58 showing on the first half clock, the Owls would build their largest lead of the game, 28-21. Trey Jackson canned a three-point basket that gave MUW the seven-point cushion, capping a 14-5 run by The W.
 
From that point, however, the Toppers went on a scoring skein of their own. BMC out-scored the Owls, 19-6, to close the half and take a 40-34 advantage into the locker room.
 
MUW managed to stay within single digits of the Toppers the bulk of the second half. A layup by Quintiyus Causey with 12:38 left in the game cut BMC's lead to four, 50-46. Unfortunately for the visiting MUW squad, a three-minute scoring drought allowed Blue Mountain to extend its lead to double figures and The W unable to muster another run in the waning minutes.
 
For the third-consecutive game, senior – and Columbus native – Terryonte Thomas led the Owls in scoring. Thomas registered a game-high 26 points. He was 9-for-21 from the floor, including four made from beyond the arc.
 
Thomas Wright was The W's only other player to reach double-digit scoring, booking 10 points. Wright also corralled a team-best seven rebounds.
 
Blue Mountain was able to counter MUW's tandem by having four players all reach double figures. The Toppers only had six players see action on the court.
 
The W scoring was rounded out by six points each from Milos Zeradjanin and JaQuan Hines. A trio of players – Jackson, Causey and Tanner Collins – each contributed five points to round out the Owls' scoring total.
 
"I found out this weekend that our guys do have heart and we got better this week, although our record doesn't depict that," Burrows added. "Thomas Wright has come and fit right on in with the guys and he's been a pleasure to have, as he is able to impact the game without the ball in his hands or having things ran for him to score."

These same two teams will have a rematch on Thursday (Dec. 16), as the Owls will play host to Blue Mountain. Tip-off at Pohl Gym is slated for 6 p.m.