The Lowdown: Baker University at (RV) Friends University
Location: Garvey Center
When: Tuesday, Oct. 27 @ 8 pm
Broadcast
Live Stats
Flying with the Falcons: The (RV) Friends University Falcons are set to begin a new era both on the court and on the bench for the 2026-27 season, with new head coach Nick Jones taking the reins of the program. Jones will have to replace five regular starters and four All-KCAC performers from last season's squad that advanced to the NAIA second round for the second straight year. Leading the returners is Eli Benning, an All-KCAC freshman guard that averaged 8.7 points per game and often guarded the opposing teams best player. Owen Evans, Jackson Swartz, Will Mays and Deshaun Lewis are additional returners that will be counted upon, while Jordan Edwards, Isaac Jones, Isaiah McLemore, Rocco Keller and Brody Kreutzer are newcomers that Jones believes can make a quick impact this season. Read the full season preview HERE!
Scouting the Wildcats: The Baker University Wildcats won their season opener 84-78 over Haskell Indian Nations University last Thursday (Oct. 22) at home. Cam Jones led the Wildcats with 20 points and Santana Flowers had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Last season, the Wildcats went 11-17 overall and 9-11 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, with Jones the leading returning scorer and rebounder at 14.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg.
The Series: The Falcons have won four of six games vs. the Wildcats since 2009, including last season's 107-68 rout on the road. Friends won the only home matchup on record. 99-72 during the 2010-11 season.
Reddi Industries: We are proud to have Reddi Industries as a top sponsor of Friends University Athletics this season! Reddi facilitated the renovation of the Garvey Center floor, the backstop at Westside Athletic Field and the railings at the football stadium plus other numerous projects. Click HERE to learn more of everything Reddi can provide for you!
KCAC Preseason Info: The Falcons were picked tied for seventh in the KCAC Preseason Coaches' poll. Click HERE for the complete poll.
Falcons by the Numbers (2025-26)
Overall record: 26-7
KCAC: 18-4
Home: 14-3
Road: 10-4
Neutral: 2-0
When scoring:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 0-0
60-69 points: 0-0
70-79 points: 6-5
80-89 points: 8-1
90+ points: 12-1
When allowing:
Under 50 points: 0-0
50-59 points: 2-0
60-69 points: 6-0
70-79 points: 10-4
80-89 points: 6-2
90+ points: 2-1
When leading at halftime: 22-3
When trailing at halftime: 3-3
When tied at halftime: 1-1
When committing fewer turnovers: 20-5
When committing more turnovers: 6-2
When turnovers are tied: 0-0
When leading in field-goal percentage: 21-1
When trailing in field-goal percentage: 5-6
When field-goal percentage is tied: 0-0
When leading in three-point percentage: 19-5
When trailing in three-point percentage: 6-2
When three-point percentage is tied: 1-0
When leading in rebounding: 17-1
When trailing in rebounding: 7-6
When rebounding is tied: 2-0
When leading in assists: 24-5
When trailing in assists: 2-2
When assists are tied: 0-0
In OT: 2-0
The Coaches:
Nick Jones is in his first year as the men's basketball head coach at Friends University.
A Wichita native, Jones returns home following a three-year stint as assistant coach for the NCAA D-II Washburn Ichabods, a MIAA program in Topeka, Kan.
This past season, Jones helped the Ichabods become one of the best teams in D-II, finishing with a record of 31-2 that included MIAA regular season and tournament championships along with a berth in the NCAA Central Regional quarterfinal round.
The previous year saw the Ichabods advance even further in the postseason, winning the NCAA Central Regional title and making it to the national semifinals before finishing with a 30-4 mark.
Overall in Jones' three years on staff, the Ichabods were 80-17.
Prior to arriving at Washburn, Jones spent eight seasons at Wichita State University, including serving as Director of Player Development during his final four seasons. He also had roles as WSU's Video Coordinator (2017-19) and Graduate Manager (2015-17).
The WSU Shockers posted a record of 175-79 during Jones' time on staff and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament four times (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) while advancing to the semifinals of the NIT Tourney in 2019.
Jones' coaching career began in earnest with a role as the University of Hawaii's video coordinator graduate assistant during the 2014-15 season after serving as a student manager for Kansas State University from 2009-14 under head coaches Frank Martin and Bruce Weber.
He is a graduate of nearby Goddard High School and received his bachelor's degree in business management from Kansas State University in 2014 before earning a master's degree in sports management from Wichita State University in 2016.
Trent Scheer enters his first season at the helm of the Baker University men's basketball team.
Prior to arriving back at Baker, Scheer was the assistant coach at NCAA D-II Missouri Southern State University for the 2025-26 season.
Collegiately, Sheer was a four-year player in the Baker men's basketball program before becoming a graduate assistant coach in the 2022-23 season and then a full-time assistant for the 2023-24 season. As an assistant, Sheer was part of three straight NAIA Postseason Tournament appearances, highlighted by a Round of 16 berth in 2025 that helped him earn Heart Men's Basketball Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Up Next: The Falcons will remain at home and host the Jack Kater Classic this weekend, starting Friday night (Oct. 30) vs. Haskell Indian Nations University at 7 pm. Friends will then square off with John Brown University at 3 pm the following day (Oct. 31).
