COLUMBUS, Miss. – After leading by as many as 17 points in the second half, the Mississippi University for Women men's basketball team had the game get away in the waning minutes of a 74-72 loss at home versus Birmingham-Southern College. The Owls (3-3) had topped the Panthers (4-2) by 10 points in the season opener on November 11 in Alabama.
 
The W trailed by two points, 32-30, at the intermission after, itself, chipping away at a six-point deficit with less than three minutes left in the opening period. The first seven minutes of the second stanza saw the Owls seemingly flip the game in their favor.
 
From the outset of the second half until the 13:48 mark left in the game, the Owls went on a 23-4 run that took them from two point down to ahead by 17 (53-36). With just under nine minutes left, The W still maintained a double-digit lead, 60-49.
 
But the Owls would experience a field-goal drought over the next three minutes, as B-SC was able to knot the game at 62-62. With just over a minute remaining, MUW managed to regain a five-point cushion, 72-67.
 
That would prove to be The W's final points, however. The Panthers posted the final seven points of the game to pull out the 74-72 win.
 
Thomas Wright led the Owls with a game-high 28 points. Wright was 13-of-17 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds in just 23 minutes of court time.
 
Junior point guard Milos Zeradjanin had 11 points, buoyed by a 6-of-6 night from the free throw line. Zeradjanin also dished off four assists.
 
Senior Shon Wright had a well-balanced effort of nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block on his ledger for the game. He was 4-of-9 from the floor.
 
Andrew Shepherd chipped in eight points, with Brye Hopkins and Tyson Smithey each tallying six. Dariun Doss and Josh dukes each booked two points to round out the scoring.
 
The W will next host Webster University on Saturday, Nov. 26, in the second contest of this five-game homestand.  Tip-off at Pohl Gym is set for 3 p.m.