WICHITA, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons dispatched of the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes 88-65 this evening (Dec. 7) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons are now 4-1 in the KCAC, their best conference start through five games since the 2014-15 season.
The Falcons led wire-to-wire and took control from the outset, opening the game on an 8-2 run and building a double-digit lead of 19-8 by the 12:49 mark of the first half.
With the lead still at 11,
Josh Price hit a three to help the Falcons extend to a 42-26 lead at the break.
After a three-point play by
Ring Deng began the second half and pushed the Falcon lead to 19, the Coyotes chipped away and eventually clawed within single-digits at 53-44 with 11:45 left.
Kee'on Hutton then came through with a pivotal sequence, scoring six points of an 8-0 spurt, highlighted by a spectacular alley-oop dunk on a feed from Deng that energized the Garvey Center faithful.
Cahlese Lee also had a steal and a dunk during the burst that built the Falcon lead back to a healthy 17 points with 10:18 remaining.
Following a three by Carson Jones that temporarily halted the burst, Deng personally scored the next six points to push the lead to 20 and the Falcons weren't seriously threatened again the rest of the way.
The Falcons biggest lead came on a three by
Owen Evans that made it 86-60 with 57 seconds left.
Deng led the Falcons (7-2, 4-1 KCAC) with 21 points, hitting seven of 10 baskets and six of seven free throws. He also contributed five assists and six rebounds. Lee scored 14 points, making five of seven shots, including three 3-pointers, while also recording three steals. Hutton added 18 points on six of nine shooting and led the team with four steals.
Alex Littlejohn led the Coyotes (6-5, 1-4 KCAC) with 19 points, hitting eight of 15 shots and recording nine rebounds. Easton Hunter scored 11 points and Tucker Bowman had a team-high six assists for KWU.
The Falcons were outrebounded 33-30, but outshot the Coyotes 53.4 percent (31-of-58) to 45.5 percent (25-of-55) overall from the field and 40 percent (8-of-20) to 28 percent (7-of-25) from beyond the arc.
Game Notes:
- The Falcons will next make the trip to Hillsboro, Kan. Wednesday night (Dec. 11) for an 8 pm tipoff at Tabor College.
