FULTON, Mo. – The W men' basketball overcame a somewhat sluggish start to polish off Westminster College, 63-58, for a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) road win at Historic Gym. The win upped the Owls' season record to 13-10 overall (9-5 SLIAC), to set the program record for most victories in a season.
In the opening half, the Bluejays (6-18, 2-12 SLIAC) took MUW a bit out of its fast-paced style, as the visitors went into the locker room with a 32-27 lead at the intermission. However, the second half was vintage MUW, outpacing WC by a 41-31 count and shooting a blistering 63 percent in the segment.
For the night, The W – which leads all of NCAA Division III in field goal percentage – finished by connecting on 56 percent (28-50) from the floor. MUW used its strong inside game, and some deft passing, to double up on the Jays for points in the paint, 44-22, for the game.
The W's
Tray Huguley continued to put up video-game like numbers, finishing with his on-going school record 15th double-double game of the season: 24 points and 15 rebounds (both game-leading totals). Huguley, who also ranks among the nation's top shooters, was 12-of-27 from the field. He also dished off four assists.
Huguley has scored in double figures in all 21 games played this season. He has 14 games with 20-plus points scored.
Junior guard
Tyler Shephard gave his team a boost at both ends of the floor. Shephard was 7-of-13 from the field on his way to a 19-point game. He grabbed eight rebounds, seven on the defensive glass, and had three blocked shots, twice sprinting back on defense to swat balls out of the air.
Joe Haze Austin and
Trent Walker both booked 10 points, to give MUW head coach
Dean Burrows four double-figure scorers for the contest. Each also pulled down six rebounds, with Walker also passing off for four assists.
The game was a make-up o the weather-postponed January 24 schedule date. Because of that fact, the same two teams will meet again this Thursday (February 19/7:30 p.m.) in Columbus.
