ST. LOUIS, Mo. -  The W saw the tables turned in its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) rematch at Fontbonne University in an 82-77 loss. The Owls (10-10, 7-6 SLIAC) had topped the Griffins (87-13, 6-7 SLIAC), also by five points (87-82) on January 11 in Columbus.
 
In the first half, a slow start saw the visiting Owls trail by double figures (15-5) less than five minutes into the game and by as many as 12 points, 25-13, with 8:17 left in the half. But the Owls would fight back the balance of the opening period, including scoring the last six points of the half to trail by two at the intermission, 34-32.
 
MUW finally caught Fontbonne at the 18:53 juncture – 36-36 - of the second half on a jumper in the paint by James Dukes.
 
Over the next 14 minutes of the final period, the game took on a pendulum-like personality, with 10 ties and 12 lead changes occurring in that span. With 4:47 left to play, the Griffins went on a 6-0 mini-run to take the lead for good.
 
Eric Bass Jr. topped a quartet of MUW double-digit scorers, with 14 points. Bass Jr. hit 4-of-6 from the field and was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He also had four rebounds and a pair of assists to his credit.
 
Trent Walker had 12 points and a team-best three assists - to go along with three rebounds - before fouling out. Senior Dariun Doss finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Dukes was the fourth Owl in double-figure scoring with 10 points on a 4-for-9 game from the floor. He also pulled down five boards.
 
Chris Evans and Isaiah Ball each contributed nine points. Evans also had six rebounds and a team-high four steals, with Ball adding three caroms and a pair of steals.
 
After snapping its two-game win skein versus FBU, The W will look to make a return to the win column on Saturday (Feb. 8/3 p.m.) at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois.