COLUMBUS – Sophomore Joe Haze Austin poured in a career-high 30 points to pace The W men’s basketball in its 90-56, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) win over visiting Principia College at Pohl Gym. The Owls’ (10-6, 6-1 SLIAC) victory over the Panthers (2-12, 0-5 SLIAC) was its sixth consecutive SLIAC win, fifth in a row overall, and its ninth “W” in the last 11 contests.
The victory also left MUW alone in second place in the SLIAC standings, just one-half game behind league-leader Webster University (6-0 in the SLIAC), which the Owls will face Thursday, in St. Louis, Mo.
The result for MUW was never really much in doubt, as PC led for just 22 seconds of the game early in the first half, with the Owls perched atop the scoreboard for 37:54 minutes of the game. The W had built a 25-point cushion by halftime, 57-32, and kept its foot on the gas in the second stanza en route to the eventual 34-point win.
And it was Austin’s big night that defined MUW’s win. Austin was a virtual microcosm of The W’s style. Good shooting? Check, as Austin was a deft 12-for-18 from the floor, 3-of-7 beyond the arc, and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Help your teammates? Check, by pulling down eight rebounds and dishing off three assists. Tough defense? Double-check, with a game-best five steals and two blocked shots to his credit.
The tandem of guards Devin McCaine and Trent Walker were also quite a handful for the Panthers, with each booking 16 points. McCaine was 7-for-14 from the field, overall, and 2-for-5 from long distance.
Walker’s points came by virtue of a 6-of-11 shooting effort, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, and making good on both charity tosses. He chipped in four rebounds and two blocks, as well.
Sophomore Tray Huguley had what was, by his standards (with a 22.5 points-per-game. average), a relatively quiet night with 10 points. But Huguley was a rebounding machine, cleaning the glass to the tune of a game-high 15 caroms, for his fifth-consecutive double-double game and 10th of the season. He has tallied in double digit scoring in all 14 games played this season and narrowly missed a triple-double by passing off for eight assists versus Principia.
Tyler Shephard added nine points and eight rebounds to the Owls’ coffers. Tyler Bohannon contributed eight points.
As a team, MUW – which leads all of NCAA Division III in field goal percentage – shot 51.5 percent (35-68) from the floor. The Owls held a hefty advantage in rebounds, at 45-31, and made just nine turnovers while forcing the Panthers into 14 miscues.
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