Movin’ on up! Coyotes rise two spots to no.13 in NAIA poll
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Coming off of two blowout wins in Kansas Conference play last week, Kansas Wesleyan jumped two spots to no.13 in the latest NAIA Division II poll released Wednesday.

Wesleyan (14-3, 7-1) notched wins over Bethel 73-58 and McPherson 81-54 last week.

The no.13 ranking is the best for KWU since the 2001 season, when the Coyotes were ranked no.9 in NAIA-II after starting the season 10-0.

Marcus Faubion leads Kansas Wesleyan in both scoring and rebounding

The Coyotes are also on track for one of the best seasons in Kansas Wesleyan basketball history. Jerry Jones’ 2000 team set the KWU mark for wins in a season with 25, going 25-9 while capturing the KCAC Regular Season Championship and the National Small College Athletic Association’s National Championship.

Wally Forsberg’s 1950 Kansas Wesleyan squad holds the best winning percentage mark in KWU history, as his team went 22-2 that season (.917) and made the Coyotes’ only appearance in the NAIA National Championships to date.

Wesleyan’s 14-3 start this season is one of the top five best starts for a team in KWU history. The 1950 team was 16-1 through its first 17 games, and the 1940 team was 15-2 at the same point of the season. The last team to start at least 14-3 was the 2001 squad.

Marcus Faubion leads the Coyotes in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.9 points and 7.47 rebounds per game so far this season. Faubion is one of four Coyotes averaging double figure scoring along with Trey Sims (13.1), Anthony Smith (12.5) and Jeff Baron (10.9).

KWU concludes the first round of KCAC play on Thursday as they host Saint Mary at about 8:00 in Muir Gym following the completion of the women’s game that begins at 6:00. The Coyotes then wrap up their three game homestand as they host Ottawa on Saturday.

-- KWU SI --