The Lowdown: Ottawa University at No. 14 Friends University
Location: Wichita, Kan. | Garvey Center
When: Saturday, Jan. 3 @ 3:00 PM
Broadcast
Live Stats
Tickets
Flying with the Falcons: The No. 14 Falcons enter Saturday's KCAC matchup with a 6-1 record in KCAC play and an 11-2 overall record, riding a seven-game winning streak. They come off an 80-72 road win over non-conference opponent, the Hastings Broncos.
Cahlese Lee continues to lead the Falcons, averaging 16.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range. Lee is also coming off a 22-point performance against Hastings. Collin Maclin contributes 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Ringo Deng provides another versatile option, averaging 11.1 points, a team-high 6.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from the three-point range.
Randy Woolf Jr. continues to be an all-around contributor, averaging 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and a team-high 4.2 assists per game while shooting an efficient 48/50/85 from the field, three-point range, and free-throw line. Al Emerllahu adds to the scoring attack, averaging 7.7 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting from the field, including 38.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Freshman Eli Benning has emerged as a key spark off the bench, averaging 4.0 assists per game and leading both the team and the KCAC with 3.0 steals per contest.
Built on Efficiency: Through the first 13 games of the season, Friends has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the KCAC. The Falcons rank second in the conference in scoring (84.7 points per game), fourth in made field goals per game (30.7), and third in field-goal percentage (48.2).
From beyond the arc, Friends leads the KCAC in three-point makes per game (10.5) and rank second in three-point percentage (38.6), a mark that ties the Falcons for 20th nationally in the NAIA. Friends also features two of the conference's top three-point shooters by percentage in Owen Evans (5th – 46.2%) and Woolf Jr. (T-1st – 50.0%).
Winning the Possession Game: Friends' offensive success is fueled by elite ball movement, as the Falcons average 20.1 assists per game, ranking first in the KCAC and sixth nationally in the NAIA, showcasing their ability to score efficiently while sharing the basketball.
Randy Woolf Jr. (4th), Eli Benning (5th), and Ringo Deng (6th) all rank among the top 10 in the conference in assists per game.
Defensively, Friends excels at taking care of the ball, committing the fewest turnovers in the KCAC with just 10.2 per game, while also ranking fourth in the conference in steals at 19.8 per contest. Benning is 2nd in the KCAC with 36 steals on the season, averaging 3.0 steals per game.
Scouting the Braves: The Ottawa Braves enter Saturday's matchup with a 4–3 record in KCAC play and an 8–5 mark overall, coming off a 92–69 victory over Culver-Stockton College.
Ottawa is led by Rich Martelly, who averages 14.4 points per game. The Braves feature three additional double-figure scorers in Micah Willis (12.8 ppg), Landyn Tyler (12.5 ppg), and Jackson Harding (11.4 ppg). Harding also leads the team on the glass, pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game.
The Series: Saturday's contest marks the 45th all-time meeting between the two programs. Friends dropped the most recent matchup, falling 86–79 in overtime to the Braves at the Garvey Center. Since the 2004–05 season, the Falcons trail the series 23–21, though they hold an 11–10 advantage in home matchups. The Falcons' last win at the Garvey Center came during the 2020–21 season, when they defeated the Braves 81–73.
Falcons Trending Up: Friends' early success has now been reflected nationally, as the Falcons climbed seven spots to No. 14 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll (Dec. 17). HERE
The Falcons have won seven straight and 11 of their last 12 games, improving to 11–2 overall and 6–1 in KCAC play.
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.
Where Games Are Won: Friends is 10-1 when committing fewer turnovers and a perfect 9-0 when leading in both field-goal and three-point percentage, highlighting the importance of execution for the Falcons.
Early Control: Falcons have also been strong when setting the tone early, posting an 8-1 record when leading at halftime.
Buckets on Buckets on Buckets: Cahlese Lee, Ringo Deng, and Randy Woolf Jr. have each surpassed the 1,000-point career milestone this season. Lee reached the mark earlier in the year during the Falcons' win over Baker. Deng joined the 1,000-point club in the Falcons' victory against Kansas Wesleyan, followed by Woolf Jr. in the win over McPherson.
Falcons by the Numbers (2025-26)
Overall record: 11-2
KCAC: 6-1
Home: 4-2
Road: 5-0
Neutral: 2-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 4-1
80-89 points: 4-1
90+ points: 3-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 1-0
60-69 points: 5-0
70-79 points: 5-0
80-89 points: 0-2
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 8-1
When trailing at halftime: 2-1
When tied at halftime: 1-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 10-1
When committing more turnovers: 1-1
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 9-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 2-2
When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 9-0
When trailing in three-point percentage: 2-2
When three-point percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 7-0
When trailing in rebounding: 4-2
When rebounding is tied: 0-0
When leading in assists: 10-1
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).
Jamie Batish is in his first full season as head men's basketball coach after leading the program for the final 10 games of the 2024–25 season, finishing 5–5. He is in his seventh season with the program, having previously served four years as an assistant coach and two as a graduate assistant.
During his time on staff, Batish has helped develop 18 All-KCAC performers, two NAIA All-Americans, a KCAC Player of the Year, two KCAC Newcomers of the Year, two KCAC Defensive Team selections, and a KCAC Freshman of the Year. He was also part of the coaching staff for the 2019–20 KCAC regular season championship team and helped guide the Braves to the NAIA Division II Round of 16.
Up Next: The Falcons continue KCAC play on the road with a matchup against the Sterling College Warriors on Wednesday (Jan. 7), in Sterling, Kan. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
