Shackeel Butters' basket in the paint with 19 seconds remaining put the Eagles in front to stay as they spoiled the Owls' AMC opener Thursday night at Anderson Arena.
William Woods University (0-3) took a 32-26 lead into halftime and twice was up by 10 points in the second half before Williams Baptist College rallied. Butters punctuated a 14-3 run by hitting a pair of free throws with 2:17 to play to give the Eagles a 58-57 advantage.
Freshman guard Spencer Yoggerst made 1-of-2 free throws on the Owls' next possession to tie the game at the 2:12 mark. Senior forward Makenzie Fessler then put William Woods back on top at 59-58 when he converted 1-of-2 free throws with :40 left.
After Butters scored to put the Eagles in the lead for good, Nash Davis connected on 1-of-2 free throws with :04 to go to make it a two-point game. The Owls were unable to get off a final shot.
Yoggerst - who was 6-of-9 from the field - tallied 15 points to direct William Woods, which shot 45% (24-of-53) as a team. Junior forward Andrew Nett chipped in with 10 points.
Senior forward Codi Whitlock collected a team-high eight rebounds as the Owls and Eagles battled to a 38-all stalemate on the boards.
Cortez King connected on 7-of-12 shots to spark Williams Baptist (3-4, 1-0) with a game-high 20 points. Butters supplied 16 points as the Eagles shot just 35% (21-of-60) from the field.
William Woods wraps up a four-game homestand when it squares off against Harris-Stowe State University in an AMC matchup at 3 p.m. Saturday.