The Lowdown: No. 17 Bethel College at No. 21 Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Wednesday, Dec. 3 @ 8:00 PM
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Flying with the Falcons: The Falcons enter the matchup 2–1 in KCAC play and 5–2 overall. Friends is coming off a 77–55 road win over York (Nov. 25) as they prepare for a top-25 matchup against the No. 17 Bethel Threshers.
The Falcons are led by Cahlese Lee, who averages 16.1 points per game while shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and adding 4.4 rebounds per contest. Lee has also been reliable at the free-throw line, converting 85 percent of his attempts. Randy Woolf, Jr. continues to be a key contributor as well, posting 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, supported by 40 percent shooting from three and an 87.5 percent mark at the line. Collin Maclin adds 13.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and remains perfect from the free-throw line this season. Ringo Deng provides all-around production with 10.7 points, a team-high 6.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Eli Benning continues to stand out, leading both the team and the conference in assists (4.7 apg) and steals (3.6 spg).
Offensively, the Falcons have been highly efficient through their first seven games. Friends ranks third in the KCAC in scoring at 87.3 points per game, second in field goals made (31.6), and first in three-pointers made (11.1). The Falcons also sit second in total rebounds (38.3) and assists (19.9) per game.
Scouting the Threshers: The Threshers enter the matchup 3–0 in KCAC play and 7–1 overall, with their only loss coming in a 68–79 road setback to Nebraska Wesleyan. Bethel is currently ranked No. 17 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll. They are coming off a 95–78 conference win over Bethany, adding to conference victories against Southwestern and Saint Mary, who is receiving votes in the most recent poll.
Bethel is led by KCAC Preseason Player of the Year Carmelo Yakubu, who averages 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. The Threshers feature three additional double-figure scorers in Rustan Griffen (13.1), Trenton Patterson (12.1), and Albert Diarra (11.6). Dominick Harris is also a key contributor, averaging 9.8 points per game while leading the team in steals (3.5) and adding 2.6 assists per contest.
The Series: This will be the 45th meeting between the two programs. Friends claimed the most recent matchup, an 81–78 victory in the Garvey Center during the 2024–25 season. Since the 2004–05 campaign, the Falcons have led the series 33–11, including a 19–4 mark at home against Bethel.
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. The Falcons currently sit at No. 21 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.
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: 5-2
KCAC: 2-1
Home: 1-2
Road: 2-0
Neutral: 2-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 2-1
80-89 points: 1-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-0
60-69 points: 2-0
70-79 points: 2-0
80-89 points: 0-2
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 5-1
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 4-1
When committing more turnovers: 1-1
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 4-0
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: 1-2
When three-point percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 4-0
When trailing in rebounding: 1-2
When rebounding is tied: 0-0
When leading in assists: 4-1
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).
Jayson Artaz is in his eighth season as Bethel College's head men's basketball coach and stands as the winningest coach in program history, also owning the best overall win percentage ever at Bethel. Since taking over in 2018, he has compiled a 143–75 record, produced four 20-win seasons, and guided the Threshers to four NAIA National Tournament appearances—including two trips to the Round of 16—and the 2020–21 KCAC regular-season and tournament championships. Artaz has developed four All-Americans, multiple KCAC Players of the Year, and more than 30 All-KCAC honorees across all teams. He earned KCAC Coach of the Year and KBCA Four-Year College Coach of the Year honors in 2020–21 and became the fastest coach in school history to reach 100 wins. Coach Artaz graduated from Bethel in 2005 and was a standout player, earning Second Team All-Conference honors and helping the 2003 team reach the national tournament. He still holds Bethel's single-season three-point record with 96 makes in 2004–05.
Up Next: The Falcons hit the road to Salina, KS on Saturday (Dec. 6) for a conference matchup against Kansas Wesleyan. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
