LINDSBORG, Kan. – Behind a decisive second-half rally, the No. 16 Friends University Falcons defeated the Bethany College Swedes, 94-75, powered by five players scoring in double figures.
The first half was tightly contested, with the Falcons' biggest advantage over the Swedes reaching five points, 22–17, with fewer than 10 minutes left in the period. The Swedes responded with a strong run to take a 24–22 advantage with eight minutes left, and the game remained tightly contested for the remainder of the half. Friends regained momentum late and carried a narrow 37–34 lead into halftime after Eli Benning converted a layup with five seconds remaining to extend the margin to three. Randy Woolf, Jr. led the Falcons in the first half with 11 points and five rebounds, with Cahlese Lee and Devin Davis contributing 6 points apiece.
The Falcons came out firing in the second half, setting the tone early as Owen Evans knocked down free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Al Emerllahu followed suit, earning a trip to the line after drawing another foul on the Swedes. After a conversion from Woolf Jr. off a Benning assist, the Falcons opened the half on a 9–0 run, pushing the lead to 44–34 with less than 19 minutes remaining.
From there, the Falcons steadily widened the gap, stretching their advantage to 20 points at 67–47 with under nine minutes left to play. Bethany made a short push, trimming the deficit to 14 with six minutes remaining, but the Falcons maintained control down the stretch. Friends closed the regular season with a decisive 94–75 victory over Bethany, marking their seventh consecutive win.
The Falcons were powered by five players scoring in double figures. Randy Woolf, Jr. led the charge with 24 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in an all-around performance. Cahlese Lee followed with 20 points, knocking down five three-pointers while contributing four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Al Emerllahu delivered a strong outing, recording his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go along with three assists and a steal.
Eli Benning added 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in a well-rounded effort. Devin Davis rounded out the double-figure scorers, providing a spark off the bench with 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists to secure his fourth consecutive game reaching double digits.
The Falcons shot 45.5 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three-point range, and 80 percent from the free-throw line. They recorded 20 assists and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 17 second-chance points, along with 52 points in the paint.
On the defensive glass, Friends outrebounded Bethany 27-18 and held a 46-30 advantage overall. The Falcons also forced 15 turnovers, recording seven steals, converting those opportunities into 13 points.
Friends will finish the regular season with an 18-4 record in KCAC play and a 23-5 record overall. The Falcons enter the upcoming KCAC postseason tournament as the No. 2 seed and will host the No. 7-seeded University of Saint Mary in the Garvey Center on Thursday (Feb. 26). Game time is to be determined.
