CONWAY, Ark. – The W demonstrated why it came into Thursday’s nonconference game at Hendrix College as the NCAA Division III’s top shooting team in the nation, in a 68-61 victory. The Owls’ (5-4) win over the Warriors (0-8) also extended MUW’s current win streak to four games.
The W hit 52 percent (27-52) from the field, slightly down from its lofty season average of 55 percent coming into the game. 48 of the Owls’ points came in the paint (compared to 28 by HC) and 12 points were off of fast breaks, as the visitors parlayed its 42-to-27 rebounding advantage onto the scoreboard.
The opening segment, although close, was controlled by the Owls. MUW led for 17:23 minutes and host Hendrix was in front just once – and for the only time of the day – for 34 seconds of the stanza. Both teams shot well, with The W hitting 52 percent from the floor and the Warriors at 41 percent in the first.
But while the Hendrix side may have been without wins, it was certainly not without heart versus the red-hot Owls. The W was never able to put away the pesky Warriors – who stayed within single-digits of the visitors the entire game- with the Owls’ largest lead at eight points with 3:10 remaining in the contest.
The W’s trio of Tray Huguley, Joe Haze Austin, and Devin McCaine, proved to be more than Hendrix could handle. The three accounted for 74 percent of MUW’s points and 64 percent of its rebounds, shooting a combined 21-for-37 (57 percent) from the floor.
Huguley and Austin both recorded double-doubles, as well. Huguley booked game-high totals of 20 points and 12 rebounds, for his fourth-consecutive double-double game. He shot 8-for-13 from the field, and also chipped in three assists and a block
For Austin, his 13 points and 11 caroms gave him back-to-back double-doubles (and three for the season). Austin did a little bit of everything in the win, with three assists, three blocks, and two steals.
McCaine extended his streak of double-figure scoring to all nine games of 2025-26, thanks to his 17-point effort versus the Warriors. McCaine was a deft 8-of-11 shooting and also snared four rebounds.
Tyler Shephard and Trent Walker each added seven points, with four from Jackson Reid, to round out MUW’s offense. Shephard swatted three shots to match Austin’s game-high total. Walker pulled down five rebounds and had a game-leading five assists on his ledger.
The W will next be in action on Saturday (Dec. 20/3 p.m.) versus Texas Lutheran University, at the Rhodes College Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee.
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