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Friends University

Ring Deng action web
Photo Credit: Kortney Schutt
69
Winner Saint Mary Saint
52
Friends Frien
Winner
Saint Mary Saint
69
Final
52
Friends Frien
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Mary Saint 37 32 69
Friends Frien 26 26 52

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Main takeaways from (RV) Men’s Basketball Falcons setback to Saint Mary in KCAC semifinals

WICHITA, Kan. – The third-seeded University of Saint Mary Spires started quick and went on to a 69-52 win over the (RV) second-seeded Friends University Falcons in the semifinal round of the KCAC postseason tournament today (Mar. 1) inside the Garvey Center.

Uphill Climb: The Spires scored the first nine points of the game, and the Falcons were playing behind throughout. Friends tried to claw back and came within 11-10 and were still down just two following a dunk by Cahlese Lee and a score from Al Emerllahu, but the Spires turned away the push and outscored the Falcons 11-2 over the last 2:41 to lead 37-26 at the break.

Consistent Separation: The Spires then scored the first two baskets of the second half and never let up from there, maintaining at least a double-digit lead the rest of the way. The Falcons managed to climb within 10 on a three by Lee at the 12:00 minute mark, but Jordan Brown hit two threes and scored eight points of a 10-1 spurt to stretch the lead to 19 and the Spires weren't threatened again.

Brown for 3: The Spires shot just 6-of-21 from three-point distance, but Brown carried the load there by hitting 5 of his 13 attempts from beyond the arc.

Rare Inefficiency: The Falcons entered today's game as the top shooting team in the KCAC and had shot at least 50 % from the field in 17 games this season. But that wasn't the case against the Spires, as the Falcons were limited to only a 36.7 percent clip (18-of-49) overall and hit just 1-of-11 from three-point distance.

Up Next: The Falcons will now await their date and opponent in the upcoming NAIA National Championship Tournament, with the official NAIA Selection Show scheduled for Mar. 6 at 7 pm. The First and Second Round is set to begin Mar. 14-15 at campus sites.

Falcons' Top Performers

Ring Deng – 20 points, nine rebounds, three blocks

Cahlese Lee – seven points, two steals

Randy Woolf, Jr. – six points, two blocks

Spires' Top Performers

Jordan Brown – 20 points, (5-of-13 threes), four assists

Tre Alexander – 20 points, seven rebounds

Jason Parson II – 10 points, 12 rebounds

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