The Lowdown: Bethany College at Friends University
KCAC Postseason Tournament Quarterfinal
"Road to Hartman" Game of the Week
Location: Garvey Center
When: Wednesday, Feb. 28 @ 7 pm
Radio: ESPN Wichita 92.3 FM
Broadcast
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Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons finished out the regular season with a hard-fought 69-65 victory over the Avila University Eagles Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons' 22-6 overall record and third-place finish in the KCAC (19-3) are both the programs best since the 2017-18 season. Read the full recap of Saturday's win over Avila HERE!
The trio of Rayland Garner, Taylor Jackson and Lauryn McIver are the Falcons' backbone this season, with Garner standing second in the KCAC in scoring (17.4 ppg) and Jackson topping the league in rebounding (11.4 rpg) and blocks (2.5 bpg) along with ranking fourth in scoring (14.9 ppg). Jackson's blocks per game are also second in the NAIA and McIver is tied for second in the KCAC with 4.7 assists per game.
The Falcons have been solid defensively this season, holding the opposition to just a 34.2 field-goal percentage overall and a 28.8 percent clip from the perimeter.
Scouting the Swedes: The Bethany College Swedes enter the postseason at 15-13 overall and 13-9 in the KCAC.
R'Manie Pulling is leading the Swedes in both points (12.3 ppg) and assists (2.7 apg) this season, while Jaden Newfarmer is tops on the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg).
The Series: The Falcons won both meetings this season over the Swedes after the two schools split a pair of matchups last year. Bethany won at home in the regular season before Friends returned the favor with a 54-49 victory in the KCAC quarterfinal round in Lindsborg, Kan. Prior to a season split in the 2018-19 season, the Falcons had won 19 straight meetings in the series. In the 2019-20 and 20-21 seasons, each team won on their home floor, but the Swedes won the rubber matchup of the 19-20 campaign at home in the KCAC postseason tournament quarterfinal round.
Quoting Head Coach Dean Jaderston
"We work all year to be playing our best in the playoffs. Tonight's game with Bethany is a rematch of last year's first round and it should be a great game. They guard so hard in the full court, and we have a lot of firepower in the halfcourt so it's an intriguing matchup. They are the only team that has beaten Tabor and they compete every night. We need to value possessions, use our size advantage, and make sure we get off to a strong start. I'm glad we're playing at home. It should be a phenomenal environment to kick off the playoffs tonight."
Postseason History: Tonight will be second straight season the Falcons and Swedes have squared off in the KCAC postseason tournament and the fifth matchup overall between the two schools since at least the 2004-05 season, with each outing occurring in the quarterfinal round. Friends and Bethany have each won of two of those meetings, with the Falcons coming out top 54-49 last season on the road.
1,000 X 2 Plus Blocks = Legendary: Junior forward Taylor Jackson has reached both 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds milestones, while also holding the modern-era school record with 275 career blocks. Jackson is a 14-time KCAC Defensive Player of the Week honoree and today was named the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
All-KCAC Recognition: With the Falcons recording their best season in six years, the trio of Taylor Jackson, Rayland Garner and Lauryn McIver reeled in top awards in the conference. Jackson is the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference performer as well as an All-Defensive team selection. Garner is also a first-team pick, while McIver is the KCAC Newcomer of the Year and a third-team selection.
Just Take Me Half the Way: Being on top at halftime has been a good indicator of success for the Falcons this season, as they've won all 16 games they've carried a lead into the locker room. But when trailing at the half, the Falcons are just 5-6. The Falcons also won the only game that was tied at the break.
Lending a Helping Hand: Friends University sophomore guard Lauryn McIver has made an immediate impact in her first season with the program, particularly distributing the ball. McIver tied a modern-era single-game record with 11 assists in the Falcons' 79-69 victory at Evangel University (Jan. 24) and is tied for the KCAC lead with 4.7 assists per game on the season. The Phoenix, Ariz. native is also just 11 assists shy of tying the program's all-time single-season assists mark.
70 is a Serious Number: The Falcons have won 19 of 21 games when limiting the opposition to below the 70-point mark, but are 3-4 when allowing at least 70 points. Conversely, the Falcons are a perfect 19-0 when scoring at least 70 points, but are 3-6 when failing to reach the 70-point mark.
Make or Miss League: Sometimes basketball can be broken down in its most simplistic terms: The team that shoots the ball better wins the majority of the time. That has proven to be true this season for the Falcons, as they're 21-1 when leading in field-goal percentage, but have lost five of six games the opposition has shot better from the field.
Sharing is Caring: The Falcons have won all 14 games when leading in assists, but are an even 6-6 when the opposition records more helpers. Friends has also won both games that the assist count was even.
Sponsor Alerts: Friends University Athletics is excited to have Home2 Suites by Hilton as an official athletic sponsor this season! For more on what they can offer, click HERE to visit their official webpage.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 22-6
KCAC: 19-3
Home: 12-2
Road: 10-4
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-3
50-59 points: 0-3
60-69 points: 3-0
70-79 points: 11-0
80-89 points: 6-0
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 4-0
50-59 points: 6-1
60-69 points: 9-1
70-79 points: 3-3
80-89 points: 0-1
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 16-0
When trailing at halftime: 5-6
When tied at halftime: 1-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 9-1
When committing more turnovers: 10-5
When turnovers are even: 3-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 21-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 1-5
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 14-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 8-5
When leading in rebounding: 19-3
When trailing in rebounding: 3-3
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 14-0
When trailing in assists: 6-6
When assists are even: 2-0
In OT: 0-0
The Coaches:
Dean Jaderston is in his fifth season at the helm of the Friends University women's basketball program. The Falcon women's basketball program has seen considerable growth under his leadership both on and off the court. Last year the team finished 17-14, catching fire at the end of the season, making it all the way to the KCAC tournament championship game at Hartman Arena.
Jaderston brings a wealth of experience to Friends University, with over 30 years of coaching high school and college basketball (13 years high school and 23 years at the college level). Last season he recorded his 300th career collegiate win on December 13th vs. Tabor College.
As a men's basketball coach Jaderston was a two-time KCAC Coach of the Year. He coached six NAIA All-America performers during his tenure at Sterling College. He also led his teams to two KCAC championships and one KCAC tournament championship.
Prior to taking over at Sterling, Jaderston served in the dual role of men's basketball head coach and assistant athletic director at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL for five seasons.
Before entering the college ranks he spent eight seasons as both the head girls' basketball and head girls' and boys' tennis coach at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, MN, and 4 years as the head boys' basketball coach at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN.
As an athlete Jaderston was a successful college basketball player at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN. He was a four-time all-conference selection while helping the team advance to four national tournaments. He also earned All-America and Academic All-America during his college career.
He also competed in tennis for three years at Crown and was a two-time conference singles and three-time conference doubles champion.
Jaderston and his wife Julie have been married for 34 years and are active in youth and camping ministries. They currently serve as executive directors of a premier summer Christian family conference called Northern Pines of Minnesota. They have 3 married sons and 7 grandchildren.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History/Secondary Education from Crown College in 1989 and then completed a Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy from Adler Graduate School in 1998
Sarah Bartel is in her first season as head coach of the Bethany College women's basketball team. Bartel is familiar with the program, having served as an assistant coach for the Swedes for two seasons along with occupying the role of Resident Director and Administrative Assistant for the Athletic Department.
Prior to arriving at Bethany, Bartel was an assistant coach at Coffeyville Community College for two years.
Up Next: With a win over the Swedes, the Falcons would advance to the KCAC semifinal round against the winner of second-seeded Saint Mary and seventh-seeded Ottawa on Saturday (Mar. 2) at 2 pm. If Saint Mary wins, the Falcons would play in Leavenworth, Kan., but if Ottawa pulls off the upset, the game would be inside the Garvey Center.
