LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the third-consecutive contest, The W men's basketball fell short in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) road game, losing at Spalding University, 64-62. The Owls fell to 10-9 (6-4 SLIAC), while the Golden Eagles upped their record to 12-8 (7-5 SLIAC).
 
The two teams battled gamely, with neither leading by more than single digits at any point of the game. There was a total of 10 ties and nine lead changes, all occurring within the first 22 minutes of playing time.
 
The host SU team led at the half, 28-26, before both teams' offenses heated up in the second.  With 18:01 left in the second half, and the game tied at 30-30, SU would go on an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to take the lead for good. To their credit, The W did have six second-half possessions down by one basket, but couldn't get over the hump.
 
MUW had, at least by its standards, an off-game shooting. The Owls hit 20-of-49 field goals, 40.8 percent, far below its nation-leading average of 53.3 percent as a team entering the day. The Golden Eagles also won the battle of the boards by out-rebounding The W by a 39-25 margin, resulting in a 13-6 differential in second chance points in favor of Spalding.
 
MUW did do a nice job of taking care of the ball on offense. The visitors committed a season low of just six turnovers in the game.
 
Sophomore Tray Huguley led all scorers with 22 points, his 17th-consecuitve outing with double-figure scoring. Huguley went 7-for-15 from the floor and hit all eight of his free throw tries. He also paced the Owls with eight rebounds on his ledger.
 
Teammate Tyler Shephard added 20 points on a 7-for-12 day from the field, including a pair of three-balls. It was Shephard's third-straight game with 20-plus points and 14th game (out of 19) as an Owl with double digit points. Shephard flocked to the glass to the tune of six rebounds, to go along with three assists.
 
Devin McCaine booked eight points and Trent Walker pulled down six caroms.
 
The W will look to return to the "W" column on Thursday (Feb. 5/7:30 p.m.), when it welcomes Blackburn College to Pohl Gym for a SLIAC tilt.