COLUMBUS, Miss. -  After a sluggish start to the 2024-25 season with three road losses, The W men's basketball just needed some home cooking in the form of a 68-58 non-conference win over Pensacola Christian College at Pohl Gym. The Owls improved to 1-3 on the season, while the Eagles fell to 4-5.
 
"Our guys came together tonight in a fashion that hasn't happened yet in our first three games," MUW Head Coach Dean Burrows said. "Obviously, most are going to look at how we shot, especially from beyond the arc, and focus on that. However, we did a good job on the glass and got some solid efforts from multiple guys. We have a long ways to go still as a group and getting to know one another more, but tonight is a step in what we've discussed as a mindset of 'forward only'."
 
The rebounding Burrows alluded to was The W's 40-to-26 advantage on the glass. The Owls had 12 offensive boards that led to 11 second-chance points.
 
There were five ties and two lead changes, as neither team created separation and MUW leading by a single possession at the half, 33-30. The contest was knotted at 44-44 with 11:01 left in the game when The W went on a 14-2 run to lead by 12 (58-46) after a pair of Chris Evans free throws.
 
Evans would finish the night with a game-high 20 points, hitting 6-of-9 from three-point range (6-of-12 overall). He also pulled down five rebounds.
 
Isaiah Ball hit 6-of-11 attempts from the floor to finish his night with 12 points. Cam Smith and Jackson Reid each chipped in 10 points.
 
Smith shared high rebound honors with Tyson Smithey, as each grabbed eight caroms.
 
Both clubs shot well for the game, thank largely to points in the paint, where PCC held a 36-to-24 cushion. The Owls shot a deft 48 percent (25-52), while the Eagles landed at 43 percent (24-56) shooting.
 
The W will have a week off to prepare for its St. Louis intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener next Tuesday (Nov. 26/3 p.m.) at home versus Lyon College at Pohl Gym.