Coyotes avenge earlier loss with 71-51 rout of Friends
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Friends coach Dale Faber reacts towards a call just before the half of KWU's 71-51 win over the Falcons

The last time Kansas Wesleyan lost a basketball game, it was December 9 against the Friends Falcons. The Falcons gave Wesleyan its only loss in KCAC play, a 52-47 decision in Wichita. In the rematch Thursday night, it was no contest, as the Coyotes cruised to a 71-51 win over the Falcons.

Friends took an early lead on a basket by Greg Carrell, but the Coyotes forced four turnovers on the next seven Falcon possessions to blast out to an 13-2 lead with 14:20 left in the first half. After a pair of Stacy Bias free throws, Wesleyan opened its lead to as many as 19 points, 25-6, with 10:52 left on a bucket by Josh Berry.

The Coyotes would again lead by 18, before the Falcons would make a run at the Coyotes, cutting into the lead, and getting within 11 at 37-26, with just under a minute left on a three by Greg Carrell. Marcus Faubion would send the Coyotes to the locker room with a 13-point advantage as he tipped in a miss by Jeff Baron just before the halftime buzzer.

Baron would give the Coyotes a 15 point lead, 41-26, with 18:55 left in the game, but Friends would outscore Wesleyan 10-1 over the next three and a half minutes to get within six, 42-36, with 15:29 left.

Faubion would reignite the Coyote offense, as Wesleyan took control with a 27-9 run that would see the Coyotes lead by as many as 24, 69-45, with 2:44 left.

Wesleyan coach Tommy DeSalme would empty his bench with 1:27 left, as the Coyotes cruised to the 71-51 win.

The Coyotes (19-3, 12-1) were led by Marcus Faubion’s 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Anthony Smith added 15, Trey Sims 14 and Baron 11, as the Coyotes shot 50 percent from the field (28-56), and won the rebounding battle 34-22. Baron also added seven rebounds for the Coyotes.

Friends (12-10, 9-3) was led by Carrell with 15, while Justin Rone added 10 as the only two Falcons in double figures. Friends shot 16-of-40 from the floor for 40 percent, making eight field goals each half. Friends was forced into 17 turnovers which resulted in 18 KWU points.

The Coyotes are on the road on Saturday at Sterling. It marks the first time that Wesleyan coach has returned to Sterling as head coach, where he spent five seasons, since coming to KWU in March of last year. Wesleyan then wraps up the home portion of the schedule next week with games in Muir Gym against Tabor (Kan.) on Thursday and Bethel (Kan.) next Saturday.

-- KWU SI --