BARTLESVILLE, Okla.- The No. 14 Friends University Falcons suffered a heartbreaking 71–70 loss to the No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles, as a late foul set up game-winning free throws for the Eagles.
The first half was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than seven points. The Falcons managed to pull ahead slightly, taking a 42–37 advantage into halftime. The second half remained just as close, with each team’s largest lead capped at five points. As the game remained tight, Friends found themselves down 68–69 with less than a minute left in regulation, in desperate need of a stop. A turnover by OKWU gave the Falcons the crucial opportunity to take the lead.
With 18 seconds remaining, Eli Benning converted a layup, the bucket counting after a goal-tending call against OKWU, to give Friends a one-point lead with seven seconds left. The Eagles responded immediately, drawing a foul with just 0.4 seconds remaining, and OKWU’s Temaje Izuagbe converted both free throws, giving Friends a heartbreaking one-point loss and snapping the Falcons’ nine-game winning streak.
Friends had balanced scoring, with five players finishing in double figures. Randy Woolf, Jr. led the team with 15 points, including three three-pointers, along with three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Cahlese Lee added 13 points, with three three-pointers and grabbed six rebounds, while Ringo Deng contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Collin Maclin finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Off the bench, Eli Benning added 10 points, three steals, and two assists, while Jackson Swartz contributed six points, five rebounds, and a steal.
OKWU’s defense proved disruptive, forcing the Falcons into 15 turnovers. Friends weren’t as efficient offensively, shooting just 38.6% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. The Falcons did knock down nine three-pointers and converted 17 of 21 free throws, finishing with an 81.0% mark from the line.
Still, the Falcons’ defense was effective, recording seven steals, forcing 14 turnovers, and converting those into 13 points, along with four blocks. They also limited OKWU from beyond the arc, holding the Eagles to just 28% shooting from three-point range.
Friends is now tied for second in the KCAC at 8-2, with a 13-3 overall record. The Falcons will look to bounce back on Wednesday (Jan. 14) when they close out their road stint against Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.