COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W men's basketball squad dropped its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) opening game of the 2024-25 campaign, falling at home to Lyon College, 62-50. The Owls fell to 1-4 overall (0-1 SLIAC), with the Scots improving to 3-3 (1-0 SLIAC) at Pohl Gym.
 
For MUW, the setback was a matter of opportunities missed…literally. The Owls had 23 more field goal attempts (64-41) than did the Scots, but had just one more field goal made (20-19) in total. That equated to Lyon shooting better than 46 percent for the game, compared to 31 percent by The W.
 
The difference came down to free throw shooting. LC made good on 18 of 28 free throw tries. Conversely, MUW went to the charity line just eight times and made five.
 
Both teams did a good job of taking care of the ball, as well. Lyon was whistled for 16 turnovers, while the Owls committed just 11 miscues.
 
Down at the half, 30-27, The W grabbed the lead for the final time in the game on a Chris Evans jumper with 17:42 left to play that made it 34-32.
 
But a 17-4 run by the Scots over the next nine minutes pushed Lyon ahead by double digits, 49-38. MUW would get no closer than seven points down the stretch.
 
Jackson Reid was the lone Owl in double-figure soring with 10 point. Reid was 3-of-8 shooting, including a pair of threes.
 
Evans and James Dukes finished with eight and seven points, respectively. Dukes pulled down six rebounds, as well.
 
Dariun Doss led MUW with 10 boards.
 
The W will next be in action on December 5 in a SLIAC bout at Westminster College.