ST. LOUIS, Mo. -  The Missouri Baptist University Spartans needed every last second and every last shot to turn away the William Woods University Owls, but that is what they did Thursday night inside the friendly confines of the Petty SRC. A driving, contested layup by senior Tyrell Andrews with three seconds on the clock was the difference as the Spartans prevailed 60-58.
 
This game was tight throughout the second half with neither team leading by more than two points in the final 13:25 and the lead changing hands six times in that span. In fact, the result was still in question until a last second three-point heave by Owls junior guard Nathan Schwartze rimmed out at the buzzer. The shot would have counted had it gone in.
 
In the end the Spartans survived and won the opening game of the American Midwest Conference schedule, as they look to defend the championship title the won a season ago.
 
This was a gritty win for the Spartans, as the Owls were able to exploit a size advantage in the paint, where they enjoyed a 38-24 advantage in scoring. Owls forward Grant Peters led WWU in scoring with 12 points and tied two others for the lead in rebounding with seven.
 
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half.  MBU finished the half at 10 of 30 shooting or 33%, and William Woods countered with 12 of 34 shooting for 35%. The Owls were zero for eight from three-point distance in the first half, while the Spartans were four of eight. Despite the struggles the Spartans were able to build and maintain a six-point advantage into halftime.
 
MBU stretched the lead to nine early in the second half via a jumper by guard Jadis White and a Bryce Johnson free throw.  However, the Owls put together a 15-4 run over the next 6:40 to take a 40-38 lead with 11:42 left. Both teams heated up offensively in the second half with the Spartans shooting 57% to 50% for William Woods.
 
White led MBU in scoring with 12 points. Andrews scored 11 for the Spartans including the last four in the final 33 seconds. Both White and Andrews played 35 minutes in this one.  Sophomore Bryce Johnson had nine points and seven rebounds.
 
Besides the 12 they got from Peters, the Owls also got 10 points from Mike Robinson and 11 from Fred Robinson. All 11 points from Fred Robinson came in the second half. Peters, Schwartze and Jared Crutcher all led the team with seven rebounds each. MBU was able to successfully limit the contributions of 6-foot-10-inch Darius Yohe. He had two points and five rebounds but made his presence felt with three blocks, all coming in the first half. Yohe now has 14 blocks through five games this season.
 
The win adds to the success the Spartans have enjoyed at home. Since the beginning of the 2020-21 season the Spartans are 23-2 at the Petty SRC.
 
The Spartans move to 4-3 on the season and 1-0 in the AMC. William Woods drops to 1-4 and 0-1 in the conference. The Spartans are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host the Lyons Scots at the Petty SRC.