MARSHALL, Mo. - The WWU Owls shot just 35 percent (21-of-60) as a team and went almost 9 minutes without a basket in the second half of Tuesday night's season-opening loss to the Missouri Valley Vikings.
William Woods University trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and was down 38-30 at halftime. The Owls opened the second half with an 8-4 run, pulling within 42-38 on senior forward Darrien Dickey's basket in the paint with 17 minutes, 5 seconds left in the game.
Missouri Valley College, though, countered with a 23-2 run to take command, opening up a 65-40 lead on Larry Plummer's 3-pointer with 12:00 to go.
Senior guard DaShaun Stark scored in the paint at the 14:43 mark and William Woods didn't have another field goal until junior guard Shamari Denson's basket in the paint with 5:53 remaining. The Owls made 6-of-6 free throws during that dismal stretch.
The Vikings - who shot 47 percent (28-of-60) overall - twice led by 27 points before closing out the 24-point triumph.
Stark, who was 7-of-13 from the field, finished with a game-high 19 points to pace William Woods. The Owls shot a woeful 15 percent (3-of-20) from 3-point range and committed 19 turnovers.
Dickey supplied 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed a team-high five rebounds as William Woods was outrebounded 39-27.
Remy Price logged 15 points to guide three players in double figures for Missouri Valley, which had 15 turnovers. Beckley Chism Obineke was next with 14 points and Darryl Lemear had 12.
The Owls begin play in the Columbia College Cougars vs. Cancer Classic against Culver-Stockton College at 3 p.m. Friday. William Woods then faces Olivet Nazarene (Illinois) University at 3 p.m. Saturday.