Men’s Basketball opens 2024 Wednesday at Southwestern, hosting Tabor Saturday

By KWU Athletics Release January 3, 2024

The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes return to the hardwood for the first time in 2024 heading to Winfield on Wednesday to take on Southwestern before hosting Tabor on Saturday at Mabee Arena.WEDNESDAY’S GAMEOpponent: SouthwesternTime: 7 p.m.Location: Stewart Field House, WinfieldSATURDAY’S GAMEOpponent: TaborTime: 7 p.m.Location: Mabee Area, SalinaLIVE COVERAGE

RECORDS

  • Kansas Wesleyan 8-4, 5-1 KCAC
  • Southwestern 11-0, 6-0 KCAC
  • Tabor 4-7, 1-5 KCAC (at Friends on Wednesday)

THE SERIES

  • The Coyotes have won the last three against Southwestern but the Moundbuilders prevailed in five of six before that. KWU won 83-77 January 11 in Mabee Arena in the only game the two schools played last season. The Coyotes won both games during the 2021-22 season. Southwestern has a 20-18 advantage since the 2005-06 season.
  • Wesleyan has a five-game winning streak and is 11-2 in the last 13 against Tabor but the series is tied 19-19 since the 2005-06 season. The Coyotes won 74-71 last January in Hillsboro and 78-52 last February in Mabee Arena.

KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE

  • The Coyotes ended the fall semester with four consecutive conference victories – the last one before the holiday break a 71-64 victory over Saint Mary inside Mabee Arena. They also defeated McPherson 76-69, Bethany 73-59, and Ottawa 77-67 – the McPherson and Ottawa victories on the road.
  • Jun Murdock is the top scorer at 18.0 points followed by Alex Littlejohn (15.9) and Caden Hale (9.7) and Thurbil Bile (9.1). Murdock also averages 4.7 assists and 2.5 steals. Littlejohn is the leading rebounder at 11.6, which ranks fifth in the NAIA. Thurbil Bile is next at 5.4.
  • KWU averages 79.2 points, allows 73.8 and is shooting 45.8 percent overall, 31.4 percent from 3-point range. The Coyotes are making 76.1 percent from the free throw line so far. Opponents are shooting 42.8 percent, 30.4 percent from deep.

SOUTHWESTERN AT A GLANCE

  • The Moundbuilders are sixth in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll and are half a game ahead of KWU, No. 8-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan and Evangel in the KCAC standings. Southwestern defeated OKWU 79-67 December 2 in Bartlesville, Okla. – the Eagles only setback this season.
  • Senior guard Cevin Clark is the Moundbuilders’ main man. He ranks second in scoring the NAIA at 26.9 points per game and is shooting 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. Clark has surpassed the 30-point plateau five times this season and scored 61 points in Southwestern’s two games before the break. Justin DeMaria averages 13.5 points while Andrew O’Brien averages 8.1 rebounds and Zach Hildago 7.9.
  • Southwestern is averaging 91.1 points on 49.1 percent shooting, 38.4 percent from long range, and has a whopping 13.2 per game rebounding advantage. Opponents average 69.4 points and are shooting 37.9 percent, 29.2 percent from the 3-point line.

TABOR AT A GLANCE

  • The Bluejays begin the week having lost three in a row and six of their last seven – the victory an 83-72 decision over Avila on November 29 in Hillsboro. They were close in their three games before the break losing to Sterling, Oklahoma Wesleyan, and Bethel by 23 combined points. Tabor is 2-4 on the road this season.
  • Thatcher McClure averages a team-best 15.9 points, Jack Voth 15.2, and Kalep Crane 13.7. Voth shoots 44.2 percent and McClure 37.2 percent from the 3-point line. McClure’s also the leading rebounder at 7.3.
  • Tabor averages 74.1 points while opponents average 77.8. The Bluejays are shooting 44 percent as a team, 31.8 percent from long range. Opponents shoot 44.8 percent and 37.7 from beyond the arc. Rebounding has been an issue as opponents have a 5.1 per game advantage.