WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons cruised to a 108-76 victory over the Tabor College Bluejays tonight (Feb. 5) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons remain in a tie for the top spot in the KCAC with Oklahoma Wesleyan University at 14-3 in the league.
The Bluejays led early 6-2 and 8-4, but the Falcons took full control from that point.
Five points each from KJ Spiller and Al Emerllahu along with a three by Cahlese Lee sparked a 17-4 burst that gave the Falcons a 21-12 lead at the 12:46 mark of the first half.
Friends continued to pull away and led 30-17 after consecutive dunks from Lee and Josh Price.
The Falcons stretched the lead up to 18 in the opening half before settling for a 51-34 lead at the break following a score from Collin Maclin.
The second half started much like the first half ended, with the Falcons outscoring the Bluejays 21-6 through the first five minutes to lead 72-40 after another three by Spiller.
The Falcons were up by as much as 36 and broke the 100-point barrier on a jumper by Mason Anderson with 3:03 left.
"Any win this time of year is a big one and tonight was no different," said Friends men's basketball head coach Phil McClintock. "We were solid defensively and played at a really high level offensively. All 15 guys were able to score tonight, which was great to see!"
Spiller scored 21 and dished out a team-leading six assists to lead six Falcons in double-figure scoring. Ring Deng scored 16 with five assists, while Maclin added 13 points and also had five helpers. Lee finished with 12 points, with Price and Dannon Lundy each scoring 10. Randy Woolf, Jr. had four assists and five rebounds.
Kam Kaniper paced the Bluejays with 21 points and Kalep Crane scored 18. Tabor also got 16 points from Zach Hiebert.
The Falcons continued their efficiency on offense, hitting 58.9 percent (43-of-73) from the field and recording 27 assists as a team, their second highest total of the season. Friends also held a 43-29 overall edge on the glass.
Now 18-5 overall, the Falcons will be right back at home Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) for a 3 pm tip-off vs. Ottawa University inside the Garvey Center.
