COLUMBUS, Miss. -  Playing its second game in as many days, the Mississippi University for Women men's basketball team dropped a 69-56 decision to Covenant College at Pohl Gym.  With the loss, the Owls (5-5) continued their pattern of a win (after taking the 'W' last night versus Pensacola Christian) alternately followed by a setback over the team's first 10 games.
 
And the bout versus the Scots saw each team had a distinct turning point. Ironically, both team's runs came in the first half and occurred back-to-back. Unfortunately for The W, Covenant's streak gave them the lead they would not relinquish.
 
However, things looked pretty good for MUW in the early going. Down by a single point, 13-12, with 11:05 remaining in the first half, the Owls' Andrew Shepherd hit a jumper in the paint that ignited a 10-0 run by The W over the next 1:50 minutes that saw MUW lead, 22-13.
 
The next four minutes turned out to be the Owls' worst nightmare, as the Scots would manufacture a 19-0 run of their own. CC drained three-consecutive treys to begin the run, which included five three-balls, overall. The Scots would eventually take a 41-33 advantage into the halftime locker room.
 
Tyson Smithey came off of the Owls' bench to tally a team-leading 12 points. Smithey was 6-of-8 from the field, pulling down four rebounds and passing for two assists.
 
Thomas Wright added 11 points on a 4-for-5 game shooting. Shepherd and Milos Zeradjanin each booked eight points. Shepherd rounded up three assists and three steals, while Zeradjanin also snagged eight rebounds and dished off a game-high five assists.
 
Chris Evans and Dariun Doss contributed six and five points, respectively. Shon Wright's four points and two from Josh Dukes rounded out The W's scoring.
 
Covenant's Promise Igbanu led all scorers with 31 points. Igbanu hauled in eight rebounds, also had five assists and was credited with three steals.
 
The W will next travel to Huntingdon College on Friday (Dec. 9) for a 4 p.m. start.