COLUMBUS, Miss. – With one game remaining in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) regular season, The W men's basketball has drawn itself into a tie for second place in the league standings, after its 78-74 home win over Westminster College at Pohl Gym. The Owls (14-10, 10-5 SLIAC) won their fourth-consecutive game by knocking off the Bluejays (6-19, 2-13 SLIAC).
 
MUW's victory – coupled with Lyon College's 77-63 loss to SLIAC leader Webster – puts the Owls in a place to finish no worse than third for a berth in the SLIAC post-season tournament. The W could also get the number two seed, but it will be a tall order. To get the second slot, and a first-round bye in the tournament, MUW would need to defeat Webster, which will come into Pohl Gym with a 15-0 SLIAC mark. If both The W and Lyon lose on Saturday, the seeds will be determined by criteria, which can be akin to deciphering the U.S. Tax Code.
 
But on Thursday night, the Owls made sure that they will be in position to control their own destiny by dispatching of the Bluejays for the second time within four days. It was junior Tyler Shephard pushing The W to the win, with a game-leading 24 points. He connected on 10-of-15 from the floor
 
Sophomore sensation Tray Huguley had his 22nd-straight double-digit scoring game, with 20 points on a 9-for-12 shooting game. Huguley pulled down eight rebounds and had a pair of blocks, as well.
 
Fellow sophomore Joe Haze Austin chipped in 17 points, going 7-for-13 from the field and draining 3-of-4 beyond the arc. Austin also etched his name into the Owls' record book with a single game mark of 10 steals against Westminster. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, as Head Coach Dean Burrows' "Swiss Army Knife."
 
Senior Trent Walker narrowly missed a double-double game, booking 10 points and hauling in nine caroms.
 
MUW entered the day leading the NCAA III in shooting percentage, at 52.0 percent, and enhanced that by hitting 54.2 percent (32-59) versus the Bluejays.
 
The W's bout versus Webster on Saturday (Feb. 21/3 p.m.) will be preceded by Senior Day recognition, honoring Walker and Jackson Reid.