The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team started with a bang, but couldn't hold a halftime lead in a 94-64 defeat at Division I William and Mary on Friday night in Williamsburg. The Eagles fall to 6-4 on the season.
UMW started the game trailing in the early going, but used a 15-3 run midway through the first half to grab a 26-21 lead. In the run, the Eagles made five three pointers, including four from junior forward John Lutkenhaus, who ended with a team-high 23 points.
The Tribe went on an 8-2 run to recapture the lead at 29-28, but freshman Mark Madison and sophomore Haden Thompson each chipped in with five points to close the half with the Eagles ahead, 40-33.
After Lutkenhaus hit a basket to start the second half, the Tribe followed with 15 straight points to assume the lead at 48-42 with 17 minutes remaining in the game. Seven straight points gave the Tribe an 11-point cushion at 57-46 with 13:05 left, and the lead swelled to 25 thanks to a 16-0 spurt from the home team, who led 73-48 with 8:50 left.
The Eagles would draw no closer, as William and Mary continued to shoot well from the perimeter, and the Eagles ended with a 94-64 defeat. After limiting the Tribe to 33 first half points, UMW saw William and Mary explode for 61 in the second half.
UMW shot 23-71 from the field (32.4%), including 12-40 three pointers, and made all six free throw attempts. William and Mary shot 34-66 (51.5%) from the floor, including 10-21 three pointers and went 16-22 at the free throw line.
Lutkenhaus led all scorers with 23 points on 9-16 shooting, including five three pointers. Junior guard TJ Jones scored 11 for the Eagles as the only other player in double figures. Omar Prewitt led William and Mary with 21 points.
The Eagles will be back in action on January 2, when they visit Frostburg State University in Capital Athletic Conference action at 3:00 p.m.
