COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women men's basketball had no answer to a University of Dallas squad who's shooting was as hot as the summer sun in the Lone Star State, in an 85-55 non-conference loss at Pohl Gym. The loss snapped a three-game win skein by the Owls (3-2), while the Crusaders (2-5) reversed a five-game losing streak with the victory.
 
UD led wire-to-wire, thanks largely to its deft results from the field where the Crusaders hit nearly 60 percent (34-57) of its shots. The W was a victim of its own mistakes, as well, as the UD converted 20 MUW turnovers into 28 points. In the paint, Dallas out-scored the Owls by a 36-14 margin.
 
The W trailed by a manageable ten points at the intermission, 40-30. However, the hosts lost traction in the second stanza, where the Crusaders out-pointed MUW, 45-25. The W hit just 25 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and was at 32 percent (18-57) for the game.
 
Only senior Brye Hopkins managed to score in double figures for The W. Hopkins' 15 points gave him game co-leader honors (with UD's Kelton Coleman). Hopkins was 5-of-6 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw stripe. He also had five rebounds in the contest.
 
While 14 of the 15 Owls who played scored, only three of those – Adin Johnson (7 points), Isaiah Ball (6 points), and Andrew Shepherd (6 points) – was able to add more than five points to MUW's coffers.
 
Chris Evans' six rebounds (all defensive) led The W on the glass. Josh Dukes hauled in four caroms, as the Owls outrebounded the Crusaders, 40-32.
 
The W will next play back-to-back exhibition games at a pair of NCAA Division I opponents, starting with Alabama State next Sunday (Dec. 3/6 p.m.) in Montgomery, Ala., and then at McNeese State a week from Tuesday (Dec. 7/7 p.m.) at Lake Charles, La.