The Lowdown: Calvary University at Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Thursday, Nov. 2 @ 7:30 pm
Broadcast: https://kcacnetwork.com/friends/
Live Stats: https://shorturl.at/jBPR2
Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons are embarking on a new era for the 2023-24 season, with head coach Phil McClintock entering his first season at the helm. Certainly no stranger to the KCAC, McClintock brings a valuable familiarity of the conference thanks to an eight-year tenure as Associate Men's Basketball Head Coach at Ottawa University.
The Falcons kicked off the season on the road last Thursday (Oct. 26), falling on the road to Central Methodist University 88-73 in Fayette, Mo.
In his first career game, Steele Chapman scored a team-leading 13 points along with six rebounds. KJ Spiller, another newcomer to the program, scored 11 points. Drew Patterson, Tim Barbieri and Al Emerllahu each added 10 points, with Christian Williams also pulling down six boards for the Falcons.
The cupboard is not empty for McClintock's first season, as the Falcons welcome back third-team All-KCAC performer Tim Barbieri and a pair of All-Freshman team selections in Al Emerllahu and Christian Williams.
Barbieri posted career-highs in points (11.4 ppg) and rebounds (8.5 rpg), with his rebounding total ranking third in the KCAC last season. The Abilene, Kan. native also finished third in the league in field-goal percentage (60.6 percent).
Emerllahu finished third on the team in both scoring (10.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg) in 2022-23, with Williams recording double-figure scoring (10.1 ppg) and finishing tied for second on the team with 1.7 assists on the season.
A trio of juniors, Eastyn Ruffin, Drew Patterson and Steve Staco, should also provide McClintock with viable options after all three saw significant action on the court last year.
Scouting the Warriors: The Calvary University Warriors opened the season against another KCAC member, falling 86-65 to the York University Panthers. Calvary trailed just 43-36 at the half, but the Panthers won the second half 43-29 to pull away.
Jonah Marr scored a team-high 13 points for the Warriors, with Matthew Hammonds and Ryan Ulrichs each adding 12 points. Marr also secured a team-high six rebounds and Erik Larkins, Jr. had a team-leading three assists vs. York.
The Series: This is the first meeting on record between the Falcons and Warriors.
Sponsor Alerts: Friends University Athletics is excited to have Home2 Suites by Hilton back as an official athletic sponsor this season! For more on what they can offer, click HERE to visit their official webpage.
Tickets: Fans are able to purchase tickets for all home basketball games by clicking HERE.
Falcons by the Numbers last season:
Overall record: 5-23
KCAC: 4-18
Home: 3-10
Road: 2-12
Neutral: 0-1
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-5
60-69 points: 1-6
70-79 points: 1-8
80-89 points: 2-4
90+ points: 1-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points:
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 3-1
70-79 points: 1-8
80-89 points: 1-10
90+ points: 0-4
When leading at halftime: 4-8
When trailing at halftime: 1-14
When tied at halftime: 0-1
When committing fewer turnovers: 1-1
When committing more turnovers: 4-22
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 5-8
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-14
When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-1
When leading in three-point percentage: 4-8
When trailing in three-point percentage: 1-15
When three-point percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 4-7
When trailing in rebounding: 1-15
When rebounding is tied: 0-1
When leading in assists: 4-9
When trailing in assists: 1-13
When assists are tied: 0-1
In OT: 1-1
The Coaches:
Phil McClintock is in his first season as head coach of the Friends University men's basketball program.
McClintock brings a stark familiarity of the KCAC to Friends, highlighted by an eight-year tenure as Associate Men's Basketball Head Coach at Ottawa University.
At Ottawa, McClintock served as the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for film breakdown and scouting reports.
2019-20 was a breakout season, as McClintock brought in six of the team's top 10 players that produced a school-record 28 victories, a regular season KCAC championship and an NAIA Sweet 16 appearance (tournament ended early due to COVID-19).
In addition to his basketball coaching experience at Ottawa, McClintock has also been the Braves Men's and Women's Golf head coach for the past four seasons.
McClintock's first basketball head coaching position came at Salem high school, where he spent three seasons and guided the team in the 2014-15 campaign to their first winning record in eight years.
A strong developer of young players, McClintock has served as a Camp Coach at the KU Bill Self Basketball Camps every year since 2012. His responsibilities at the camp include running drills, coaching teams and developing player skills.
His first career coaching job was a two-year tenure as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at William Woods University from 2010-12.
McClintock also played collegiately at Ottawa and enjoyed immense success, earning two NAIA All-America honors, a pair of All-KCAC nods while finishing his career as the all-time leader in blocked shots and top five all-time in scoring, rebounding and steals. An Ottawa University Hall of Fame inductee in 2021, he helped the Braves to two conference titles and a pair of NAIA Sweet 16 berths.
A 2009 graduate of Ottawa University in Physical Education and Health, McClintock then earned his Master of Education in Athletics/Activities Administration from William Woods University in 2012.
McClintock and his wife Kirsten have three boys, Lawson (14), Jackson (10), and Bodie (two).
Matt Sanders is the head coach of the Calvary University men's basketball program.
Up Next: The Falcons will be at Oklahoma City University on Saturday, Nov. 11 for a 4 pm tip-off. The following day, Friends will play a high-octane exhibition tilt at Wichita State University, set for 1 pm inside Charles Koch Arena.
