The Lowdown: No. 18 Friends University Falcons at York University Panthers
Location: York, Nebraska | Freeman Center
When: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ 3:00 PM
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The Friends University Falcons are coming off a tight 77-83 loss to the No. 13. Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles on Wednesday (Nov. 19). The Falcons currently sit at 4-2 overall and 1-1 in KCAC play. They are led by Cahlese Lee, who averages 15.5 points per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 40% from the three, along with 3.7 rebounds per game. Randy Woolf, Jr. adds 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, shooting an efficient 51.9% from the field, 42.9% from beyond the arc, and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Collin Maclin contributes 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, and is 100% from the free-throw line. Ringo Deng remains a versatile presence for the Falcons, averaging 11 points, a team-high 6.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Freshman Eli Benning continues to make a major impact off the bench, leading both the team and conference with 4.8 assists and 3.7 steals per game. Sharpshooter Owen Evans can stretch the floor effectively, knocking down 50% of his three-point attempts and averaging 2.3 made threes per game.
As a team, the Falcons lead the conference in field goals made per game (32.0), three-pointers made per game (12.0), and assists per game (20.7).
Scouting the Panthers: The York Panthers enter the matchup at 2-6 overall and 0-2 in KCAC play, most recently falling to the No. 11 Saint Mary Spires, 59-76, in their conference home opener.
The Panthers are led by Jadin Johnson, who averages a team-high 17.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, while Dave Dalge anchors the glass with a team-high 4.6 rebounds per game.
The Series: The Falcons dominated the Panthers in their most recent meeting, earning a 103-67 victory during the 2024-25 season at the Garvey Center. York leads the all-time series 14-11 since the 2005-06 season, and prior to last year's matchup, Friends had dropped four straight to the Panthers. The Falcons are 3-9 on the road against York, with their last trip to York, Nebraska resulting in a narrow 59-63 defeat during the 2023-24 season.
High Expectations: The Falcons are coming off their winningest season in six years and a runner-up finish in the KCAC after being picked ninth and tenth in last year's preseason polls. This season, they were projected to finish second in both KCAC preseason polls, earning multiple first-place votes in each. Their strong start has also sparked national attention, as the Falcons climbed six spots to No. 18 in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 poll (Nov. 12).
Promo Depot: We are proud to have Promo Depot as a sponsor of Friends University Athletics this season! Click HERE for more info on the services Promo Depot can offer!
Kansas Army National Guard: We are thrilled to have the Kansas Army National Guard on board with us this year as an official sponsor! Click HERE to visit their website.
Falcons by the Numbers (2025-26)
Overall record: 4-2
KCAC: 1-1
Home: 1-2
Road: 1-0
Neutral: 2-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 1-1
80-89 points: 1-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 2-0
70-79 points: 2-0
80-89 points: 0-2
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 4-1
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 3-1
When committing more turnovers: 1-1
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 3-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 1-2
When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 4-0
When trailing in three-point percentage: 0-2
When three-point percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 3-0
When trailing in rebounding: 1-2
When rebounding is tied: 0-0
When leading in assists: 3-1
When trailing in assists: 1-1
When assists are tied: 0-0
In OT: 0-0
The Coaches:
Phil McClintock is in his third season as head coach of the Friends University men's basketball program and has already transformed the Falcons into a national contender. Last season was the true breakout, as McClintock guided the Falcons to their most wins (24) in six years, the program's first NAIA National Tournament victory since 2013-14 and a second-place finish in the KCAC that saw the program fighting for the top spot until the final day of the regular season.
McClintock brought 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 (15), Jackson (11), and Bodie (three).
Mitch McMullen is in his first season as head coach of the Panthers, bringing a strong coaching background from previous stops at Temple College, Fort Scott Community College, and Nelson University. He also enjoyed a successful playing career at Nelson, helping lead the program to a conference championship in 2020.
Up Next: The Falcons head up to Topeka, Kansas, next Tuesday (Nov. 25) for an exhibition matchup against the NCAA Division II No. 2 Washburn Ichabods. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM at Lee Arena.
