WICHITA, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons overcame multiple double-digit deficits to defeat the No. 24-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles 88-82 today (Jan. 11) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons are now 12-4 overall and 8-2 in the KCAC, marking the program's best 10-game conference start in a decade. The win also snaps an eight-game losing skid to OKWU, with the Falcons' previous win over the Eagles coming during the 2019-20 season.
The Falcons had to climb out of an early hole, with the Eagles scoring the first 12 points of the game.
Down 17-9, the Falcons surged back as a three by
Cahlese Lee capped an 11-0 spurt to give Friends its first lead of the game.
Following another three by Lee that gave the Falcons a 32-29 edge, the Eagles ended the first half much like they started with a 13-1 spurt to take a 42-33 lead into the break.
A three-point play by Isaac Stanek started the second half for OKWU and the Eagles later got another three-point play, this time from Yashi McKenzie to take their biggest lead of 63-49 with 13:16 remaining.
Still trailing 66-52,
Collin Maclin caught fire and scored eight straight points, including a pair of threes to jumpstart a 22-6 surge that suddenly had the Falcons up 74-70.
Randy Woolf, Jr. got a steal and fed Maclin for a layup to tie the score and Maclin then scored again to give Friends its first lead since it was 32-29 at the 4:09 mark of the first half. Woolf, Jr. followed that with a pair of free throws to give the Falcons a four-point lead with 6:34 remaining.
The Eagles scored the next four points to tie the score, but
Ring Deng came through with a massive three at the 4:35 mark and the Falcons wouldn't trail again.
After Stanek scored to make it a one-point game, buckets from Woolf, Jr. and Maclin along with a three by Lee extended the Falcon lead to eight with 2:34 left in the game.
OKWU made one more push and made it a one-possession game at 85-82 with 32 seconds left, but Woolf, Jr. halted the rally with a big bucket and then one free throw to put it away.
"Tonight was a great team effort from our guys to get the win," said Friends men's basketball head coach
Phil McClintock. "It was a rollercoaster game with a lot of ups and downs but this team never quit and stuck together. Looking forward to the next game which is a big one, because it's the next one."
Maclin led the Falcons with a career-high 24 points, showcasing his scoring ability by hitting 8 of 13 shots, including three from beyond the arc. Lee was also impactful, scoring 19 points, with an impressive 4 of 7 shooting from three-point distance. Woolf, Jr. demonstrated versatility on the court, scoring a career-best 17 points, while also leading the team with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals alongside two blocks.
KJ Spiller contributed 14 points, five assists, and two steals, further strengthening the Falcons' dynamic attack.
Stanek led OKWU (9-6, 6-3 KCAC) with 28 points, including hitting five 3-pointers and adding a team-high six boards. McKenzie contributed 18 points and also recorded four assists and five total rebounds. Jaden Lietzke scored 13 and Derrick Talton Jr. added 12 points for the Eagles.
Friends was outrebounded 38-36 overall and 19-10 on the offensive glass, but made up for it by shooting 50.9 percent (27-of-53) from the field and 45.8 percent (11-of-24) from three-point distance compared to just 41.1 percent (30-of-73) overall and a 29.2 percent (7-of-24) clip from the perimeter for OKWU.
The Falcons will now wrap up their three-game homestand next Wednesday night (Jan. 15) with another big conference matchup with Southwestern College. Tip-off will be at 8 pm inside the Garvey Center.
