The Lowdown: McPherson College at (RV) Friends University

* KCAC Postseason Tournament Quarterfinal

Location: Garvey Center

When: Wednesday, Feb. 26 @ 7 pm

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Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons capped off an amazing regular season with a 105-85 victory over Bethany College on Senior Day last Saturday (Feb. 22) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons had already clinched the second spot in the KCAC prior to Saturday and finished the regular season at 22-6 overall and 18-4 in the KCAC to equal the most wins for the program since the 2018-19 season. Read the full recap vs. Bethany HERE!

KJ Spiller leads Friends and is fifth in the KCAC in scoring (17.0 ppg) and is tied for the team lead in rebounding (5.9 rpg). Cahlese Lee (12.9 ppg), Randy Woolf, Jr. (11.1 ppg) and Ring Deng (10.1 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures to give the Falcons a balanced offensive attack.

Woolf, Jr. is tops on the Falcons and fourth in the KCAC with 3.9 assists per game, with Ring Deng recording a team-leading 1.5 steals and also averaging 5.9 rebounds.  Lee has been proficient from beyond the arc, ranking fifth in the league in three-point percentage (43.4).

Scouting the Bulldogs: The McPherson College Bulldogs enter the postseason on a three-game losing streak and are 12-16 overall and finished 10-12 in the KCAC.

Curtis Rose leads the Bulldogs with 14.6 ppg and 3.4 assists, while Collin Storr is averaging 12.3 ppg and ranks fourth in the KCAC in field-goal percentage (59.5) along with a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Tarrance Austin is also scoring in double-figures with 10.2 ppg.

The Series: The Falcons and Bulldogs each won on the road this year to split the season series. Friends is 26-18 vs. McPherson overall since 2005, with a 16-8 record in Wichita.

Quoting head coach Phil McClintock:      

"Our guys are excited to start the KCAC Tournament at home. McPherson is a tough team who is very physical and can beat anyone on any given night. Our guys are going to have to match their physicality and rebound at a high level to come out on top."

Top of the League: The Falcons' most wins in six years has resulted in elite recognition within the KCAC, highlighted by head coach Phil McClintock being named the KCAC Coach of the Year and KJ Spiller selected as KCAC Co-Player of the Year. Randy Woolf, Jr., Cahlese Lee and Ring Deng also earned all-conference recognition. Read the full release HERE!

Postseason Breakthrough: The Falcons will be aiming for their first victory in the KCAC postseason tournament since winning 84-67 over the University of Saint Mary in the 2018-19 season.

Glass House: The Falcons have won all 18 games when leading in rebounding but are just 4-6 when the opposition controls the boards.

Half Good: When taking a lead into the locker room this season, the Falcons have won 16 of 17 games. But they're a modest 5-4 when trailing at the break while splitting two games that were tied at the half.

Straight Shooters: The Falcons are 19-3 when outshooting the opposition from the field but are 3-3 when the opposing team records a higher field-goal percentage.

SCHEELS: We are proud to have Scheels as a sponsor of Friends University Athletics this season!  Click HERE for more info on the Scheels store in Wichita.

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: 

Overall record: 22-6

KCAC: 18-4 

Home: 9-4 

Road: 11-2

Neutral: 2-0 

When scoring:                                              

Under 50 points: 0-0 

50-59 points: 0-1 

60-69 points: 0-2

70-79 points: 8-3 

80-89 points: 8-0 

90+ points: 6-0 

When allowing: 

Under 50 points: 

50-59 points: 3-0 

60-69 points: 7-0 

70-79 points: 8-2 

80-89 points: 4-4

90+ points: 0-0 

When leading at halftime: 16-1 

When trailing at halftime: 5-4

When tied at halftime: 1-1 

When committing fewer turnovers: 11-3

When committing more turnovers: 9-3 

When turnovers are tied: 2-0 

When leading in field-goal percentage: 19-3

When trailing in field-goal percentage: 3-3 

When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-0 

When leading in three-point percentage: 15-1

When trailing in three-point percentage: 7-4 

When three-point percentage is tied: 0-1

When leading in rebounding: 18-0 

When trailing in rebounding: 4-6 

When rebounding is tied: 0-0 

When leading in assists: 16-1 

When trailing in assists: 5-5

When assists are tied: 1-0 

In OT: 0-0 

The Coaches: 

Phil McClintock is in his second season as head coach of the Friends University men's basketball program.  

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).  

T.J. Eskildsen is in his sixth season at the helm of the McPherson College Bulldogs after a nine-year tenure as an assistant coach with the program. Eskildsen has led McPherson to the KCAC Tournament in all but one season of his tenure.

Up Next: With a victory over McPherson tonight, the second-seeded Falcons would host the survivor of third-seeded University of Saint Mary and sixth-seeded Southwestern College Saturday afternoon (Mar. 1) at 2 pm inside the Garvey Center.