Coyotes rout Southwestern for 62-44 win
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

No Anthony Smith, no problem. Kansas Wesleyan jumped out to an 11-0 lead, and did not look back as the Coyotes routed Southwestern for the second time this season, this time a 62-44 victory at Stewart Fieldhouse in Winfield.

Smith, a senior guard from Peoria, Ariz., missed the game with a foot injury. He came out for warm-ups, but did not take the floor, heading back to the locker room, returning in street clothes.

Southwestern didn’t score its first point until the 13:46 mark on a free throw by Sheldon Brown, and didn’t hit its first field goal until the 11:07 mark, a bucket by Prince Ezeala. The Moundbuilders were able to get as close as 10 in the first half, the last time coming at the 1:03 mark on a bucket by Trey Merrifield.

The ‘Builders got as close as eight to start the second half at 28-20, as Rodney Johnson scored and was fouled, but missed the free throw. Wesleyan answered, ending any suspense with an 18-2 run to take its biggest lead at 24, 46-22, with 12:05 left.

Merrifield broke the Wesleyan run with four straight, as Southwestern (15-5, 7-3) got as close as 20 with 9:56 left in the game. The Coyotes led 54-33 with 6:10 left when the ‘Builders finally got back with 19. Southwestern then used an 8-2 run to get as close as 15, but Wesleyan used a 6-1 run to go back up by 20, and would lead 62-42 with 1:32 left, when both teams would empty their benches to finish the game.

Kevin Kelley would cap the game scoring with 34.2 seconds left, to make the final score 62-44 in favor of the Coyotes.

Marcus Faubion would lead the Coyotes (17-3, 10-1) with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Jeff Baron added 17 and Trey Sims had 11. The Coyotes sizzled from the field, shooting 24-of-48 for 50 percent, including a 12-of-19 effort for 62.3 percent in the second half. Baron and Sims each added seven rebounds as the Coyotes pummeled the ‘Builders 41-25 on the glass.

No Southwestern player ended up in double figures, but they were led by Justin Diggles and Ezeala with seven each, while three other players had six each. The ‘Builders were 17-of-50 from the field for 34 percent, and struggled mightily from the line, going 7-of-18 for just 38.9 percent. Ezeala also led the ‘Builders with four rebounds.

The Coyotes are back in action on Saturday as they face arch-rival Bethany. The Coyotes hammered the Swedes 77-54, earlier this season for Wesleyan’s first win in Lindsborg since the 1995-96 season.

-- KWU SI --