The Lowdown: (RV) Friends University at (RV) Columbia College
Location: Columbia, Mo.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 31 @ 1 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons dominated McPherson College 91-62 on the road before the Christmas Break to improve to 11-1 overall and 6-1 in the KCAC. The Falcons are one game behind undefeated Evangel and Sterling for the top spot in the KCAC. Read all about the Falcons' gritty win at McPherson HERE!
Rayland Garner reached 1,000 career points earlier this season and leads the Falcons while ranking second the KCAC in scoring (19.6 ppg) and fourth in both rebounding (8.3 rpg) and steals (2.7 spg). Abigail Barr is second on the Falcons in scoring (15.6 ppg) and is second in the league in field-goal percentage (61.8) along with 6.4 rebounds per game. Lauryn McIver is averaging a solid stat line of 14.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg and a team-high 4.9 apg that ranks fourth in the KCAC. Katie Weiss has hit a team-leading 32 threes on a solid 37.6 percent shooting clip from three-point distance.
The Falcons currently rank third in the KCAC in points per game (77.6 ppg).
Scouting the Cougars: The (RV) Columbia College Cougars are undefeated at 11-0 on the season and have won both games in the American Midwest Conference (AMC).
Ashtyn Klusmeyer leads the Cougars with 19.2 ppg, followed by Lexi Miller with 13.5 ppg and Mya Miller at 12.4 ppg. Lexi Rubel is tops on Columbia in both rebounding (7.7 rpg) and assists (4.4 apg).
The Cougars are the top defensive team in the AMC, allowing just 55.5 ppg while ranking second in the league in scoring (75.1 ppg).
The Series: Both meetings on record between the Falcons and Cougars have occurred in the last two seasons, with Columbia winning both matchups. The Cougars won 58-49 in Wichita last season and 74-49 at home during the 2023-24 season.
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.
Boarding School: The Falcons are a perfect 11-0 when leading in rebounding but fell to Evangel in the only game they were outrebounded.
Make it Make Sense: It's Basketball 101 that it's hard to win when losing the turnover battle, but the Falcons have defied that logic all season. Friends is a perfect 7-0 this season when committing more turnovers than the opposition.
Make or Miss League: The Falcons have won all 11 games this year when leading in field-goal percentage but lost 95-88 to Evangel in the only game they've been outshot this season.
Welcome to the Club: Senior forward Rayland Garner became the eighth member of the Falcons' 1,000 career point club during the modern era with a game-high 28 points to help the Falcons win 65-59 over Oklahoma Wesleyan University back on Nov. 19.
Falcons by the Numbers
Overall record: 11-1
KCAC: 6-1
Home: 6-1
Road: 5-0
Neutral: 0-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-0
60-69 points: 3-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 4-1
90+ points: 2-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 1-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 6-0
70-79 points: 1-0
80-89 points: 0-0
90+ points: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 7-0
When trailing at halftime: 4-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 2-0
When committing more turnovers: 7-0
When turnovers are even: 2-1
When leading in field-goal percentage: 11-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 0-1
When field-goal percentage is even: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 7-1
When trailing in three-point percentage: 4-0
When leading in rebounding: 11-0
When trailing in rebounding: 0-1
When rebounding is even: 0-0
When leading in assists: 9-0
When trailing in assists: 1-1
When assists are even: 1-0
In OT: 1-0
The Coaches:
Dean Jaderston is in his seventh 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. Their consistency and competitiveness have led to an 81-43 record over the past four years, including two trips to the KCAC championship game in the past three seasons.
Jaderston brought a wealth of experience to Friends University, having coached for over 30 years (24 years in college and 13 years in high school). On December 13, 2022, he recorded his 300th career collegiate win 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. In 2024 he was inducted into the Crown College Athletic Hall of Fame.
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.
Jaderston and his wife Julie have been married for 38. They also currently serve as executive directors of a premier summer Christian family conference called Northern Pines of Minnesota. They have three married sons and nine grandchildren.
Matt Moore is in his second season as head coach of the Columbia College women's basketball program. Prior to taking over the head coaching position, Moore was an assistant coach for Columbia for three seasons.
In his first year as head coach, Moore led the Cougars to their fourth straight AMC tournament title and a 28-4 overall record for the program's highest winning percentage in school history.
Before joining Columbia, Moore had assistant coaching stops at St. Louis Community College and Westminster College.
Up Next: The Falcons will resume KCAC action at home on Jan. 3 vs. Ottawa University. Tip-off is set for 1 pm inside the Garvey Center.
