MBB Game Preview: WBU at No. 22 William Woods (Jan. 25 | 3 PM)

WALNUT RIDGE,Ark. (1/24/24) – The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team looks ahead to face No. 22 William Woods in Fulton, Mo. on Saturday, Jan. 25.

GAME INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (4-12, 1-9 AMC) vs #22 WILLIAM WOODS OWLS  (16-2, 8-1 AMC)
Game info: Saturday, Jan. 25 - 3:00 p.m. CST - Anderson Arena (Fulton, Mo.)
Live stats: https://wwuowls.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Live video: https://team1sports.com/wwuowls/?B=2050768 

MATCHUP HISTORY

Last Meeting: Nov. 23, 2024 (WWU 84-66)
Current Streak: WWU W5

WBU QUICK FACTS

2024-25 Record: 4-12 (1-9 AMC)
Current Streak: L6
2023-24 Record: 13-13 (5-9 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Austin (14th)
HC Record: 263-258
HC Record at WBU: 183-184 (116-132 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Noah Ellis (1st)

ABOUT WILLIAM WOODS

2024-25 Record: 16-2 (8-1 AMC)
Current Streak: W11
2023-24 Record: 12-16 (10-4 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Jordan Ashton (2nd)
Assistant Coaches: Grant Greenberg, Gabe Shilts

WWU NOTABLES

• William Woods defeated No. 17 Central Baptist 79-74 for its' program-record 11th straight victory in its' last matchup

• D'Mari Wiltz finished with a career-high 21 points on 8-for-17 from the field in the win

• The Owls sport one of the AMC's top defenses, holding opponents to an average of 63.4 points per game

• WWU averages 81.6 points per game (3rd AMC) this season

• Francis Okwuosah leads the Owls in scoring average with 14.3 points per game (9th AMC), highlighted by a 20-point performance against Benedictine (Nov. 1)

• Okwuosah also leads William Woods on the glass with an average of 7.9 rebounds per game (2nd AMC) with a season-high of 15 against Mission (Jan. 18)

• The Owls lead the AMC in offensive rebounds with an average of 14.4 per game

• The Owls sit a half game behind 9-1 Central Baptist for first place in the AMC standings

• WWU was ranked 22nd in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll No. 4 released on Wednesday, Jan. 15. 

LAST TIME OUT

• WBU fell in its last matchup on the road against Harris-Stowe 74-49 on Thursday, Jan. 23

• Elisha Cofield posted a double-double to take the team lead in points (18) and rebounds (14)

• Antonio Trotter added a career-high eight points off the bench on 3-for-5 shooting

• The Eagles went 17-for-53 (32.1 percent) from the field including a 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) mark from three-point range

• Williams won the rebound battle 46-43

WBU NOTABLES

• Amarion Wilson leads the team in scoring average with 15.5 points per game (6th AMC).  His season is highlighted by a 34-point performance against William Woods (Nov. 23)

• Elisha Cofield leads the team on the glass, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game (T-3rd AMC) with a season-high of 14 against Harris-Stowe (Jan. 23)

• The Eagles average 72.7 points per game (8th AMC), while opponents average 78.8 points against them (6th AMC).

• WBU is in the midst of a six-game losing streak

• WBU sits at 9th in the AMC standings, two games behind 8th place Harris-Stowe 

• Williams' last ranked win came on March 4, 2020 over No. 23 Park in the AMC Tournament Quarterfinals in Parkville, Mo. by the final score of 84-79

AMC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1 Columbia (78)
2 Central Baptist (71)
3 William Woods (65)
4 Missouri Baptist (62)
5 Mission (47)
6 Williams Baptist (42)
7 Harris-Stowe (27)
8 Crowley's Ridge (24)
9 Hannibal-LaGrange (23)
10 UHSP (11)

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Up next, the Eagles will return home to face Columbia on Thursday, Jan. 30.  Tip-off against the Cougars is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.

• Williams' 2024-25 schedule features 14 home games inside the Southerland-Mabee Center