The Lowdown: No. 14 Friends University at No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Location: Bartlesville, Okla. | Mueller Sports Center
When: Saturday, Jan. 10 @ 5:00 PM
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: Saturday's KCAC showdown carries major conference implications, as the winner will claim sole possession of first place in the conference. The No. 14 Falcons enter the matchup against No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan with an 8–1 KCAC record and a 13–2 mark overall, riding a nine-game winning streak. Friends previously picked up a decisive 75-58 road win against Sterling on Wednesday (Jan. 7).
Cahlese Lee continues to lead the Falcons, averaging 16.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three-point range, and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Ringo Deng is a versatile contributor for the Falcons, averaging 11.7 points, a team-high 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game (tied for team-high), while shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range. His strong performances against Hastings and Ottawa earned him KCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday (Jan. 5) after he averaged 17.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists across the two games. HERE
Randy Woolf, Jr. provides an all-around presence, averaging 11.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest. Woolf Jr. has been highly efficient, shooting 48.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point line, and 90 percent from the free-throw line (T-1st in KCAC). Woolf Jr. is coming off an impressive performance against Sterling, putting up 20 points on 55.6 percent from the field, with three three-pointers.
Collin Maclin rounds out the Falcons' double-figure scorers, averaging 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
Freshman Eli Benning has emerged as a key spark off the bench, averaging a team-high 3.9 assists per game and leading both the Falcons and the KCAC with 2.7 steals per contest. Owen Evans has also contributed with efficient outside shooting, connecting on 26 three-pointers at a 42.6 percent clip.
Built on Efficiency: Through the first half of the season, Friends has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the KCAC. The Falcons rank third in the conference in scoring (84 points per game), fourth in made field goals per game (30.3), and third in field-goal percentage (48.1).
From beyond the arc, Friends ranks second in the KCAC in three-point makes per game (10.1) and third in three-point percentage (37.4). Friends features two of the conference's top three-point shooters by percentage in Owen Evans (11th – 43.1%) and Randy Woolf Jr. (1st – 50%).
Winning the Possession Game: Friends' offensive success is fueled by elite ball movement and execution. The Falcons average 19.5 assists per game, ranking first in the KCAC and eighth nationally in the NAIA, highlighting their ability to score efficiently while sharing the basketball.
Ringo Deng (T-4th), Eli Benning (T-4th), and Randy Woolf, Jr. (7th) all rank among the top 10 in assists per game.
The Falcons also take care of the basketball, committing the fewest turnovers in the KCAC at just 10.1 per game. Defensively, Friends ranks fourth in the conference in steals with 9.6 per contest, led by Benning, who sits second in the KCAC with 38 steals on the season.
Scouting the Eagles: The Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles enter Saturday's matchup ranked sixth in the NAIA with an 8-1 record in KCAC play and a 13-2 record overall, coming off an 80-75 road win against the University of Saint Mary.
OKWU is led by Tamaje Izuagbe, who averages 17.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. The Eagles feature an additional scorer in double-figures in Nick Bene who averages 10.7 points and 4 rebounds per game.
The Series: Saturday's matchup marks the 36th all-time meeting between the two programs. Friends dropped the most recent meeting earlier this season at home, as Oklahoma Wesleyan secured an 83–77 victory over the Falcons. Since the 2007–08 season, Friends trails the series 27–8 and holds a 2–17 record in road games against the Eagles. The Falcons' last win in Bartlesville came during the 2019–20 season, when they secured a narrow 72–71 victory over OKWU.
Falcons Trending Up: Friends' success throughout the season is being reflected nationally, as the Falcons rank No. 14 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll (Dec. 17). HERE
The Falcons have won nine straight and 13 of their last 14 games, improving to 13–2 overall and 8–1 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 12-1 when committing fewer turnovers, 11-0 when leading in field-goal percentage and 10-0 when leading in three-point percentage, highlighting the importance of offensive execution for the Falcons.
Early Control: Falcons have also been strong when setting the tone early, posting a 10-1 record when leading at halftime.
Road Warriors: The Falcons have been tested away from home and responded well, entering Saturday's matchup a perfect 6–0 on the road this season.
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: 13-2
KCAC: 8-1
Home: 5-2
Road: 6-0
Neutral: 2-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 5-1
80-89 points: 5-1
90+ points: 3-0
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 5-0
70-79 points: 6-0
80-89 points: 0-2
90+ points: 0-0
When leading at halftime: 10-1
When trailing at halftime: 2-1
When tied at halftime: 1-0
When committing fewer turnovers: 12-1
When committing more turnovers: 1-1
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 11-0
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 2-2
When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 10-0
When trailing in three-point percentage: 3-2
When three-point percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in rebounding: 7-0
When trailing in rebounding: 5-2
When rebounding is tied: 1-0
When leading in assists: 12-1
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).
Donnie Bostwick is in his eighth total season as head coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan across two stints, compiling 223 wins and an 83% winning percentage. A Pryor, Oklahoma native, he has enjoyed success at multiple levels, leading Vinita High School to a state title game, serving as an assistant at John Brown University during its 2005 NAIA National Championship season, and guiding OKWU to the 2009 NAIA DII National Championship with a program-record 39-game winning streak. After six seasons at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, highlighted by five NAIA Tournament appearances and a berth in the 2013 NAIA DI National Championship Game, Bostwick returned to OKWU in 2017, where he has led the Eagles to four straight NAIA National Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances. A three-time NAIA National Coach of the Year, he has also coached internationally, including serving as a Team USA assistant in 2015.
Up Next: The Falcons will conclude their road stint next Wednesday (Jan. 14) with a matchup against Southwestern College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in Winfield, Kan.
