WINFIELD, Kan. – The first tip-off of 2023 for the No. 6-ranked Southwestern College men's basketball team was on Wednesday night in Winfield against the Bethel College Threshers. Both squads would do battle in their ninth Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) contests of 2022-23. After a tightly knit first half, the Moundbuilders pulled away late for an 11-point win over the visiting Threshers, 90-79.

"It was great to have so much support from the Winfield community at the game tonight," stated head coach Matt O'Brien. "I am hoping we can pack Stewart versus Friends on Saturday for a heated rivalry game."

In the primary half of play, the two sides were about as evenly matched as possible. Though Bethel jumped out to a 29-19 advantage with 8:44 remaining, the Moundbuilders would score 22 of the last 34 points in the period to tie the score. The squads managed 21 rebounds each, and they shot at shockingly similar clips. Bethel was able to sink 14-of-36 (38.9%) from the field, and Southwestern countered with a 15-of-35 (42.9%) display. The only difference was that Bethel made two more free throws than the Builders, which made the score tied at 41 entering the second stanza.

The second half as all about the torrid SC offense, which drained 15 of their 26 shots from the field (57.7%). They also made 13 free throws in the period, and nearly reached 50 points for the stanza. Bethel was not too shabby on offense, though their 15-of-37 (40.5%) clip was nowhere near where it needed to be to keep up with the Moundbuilder attack. The Builders received a huge lift from three straight three-point shot makes from Cevin Clark, which sparked an incredible run in the late going. The home squad put together a 22-9 stretch to finish the tilt after the momentum swing in the final 7:05 of play. Ultimately, SC came away with a hard-fought 90-79 victory.

"Cevin Clark's stretch of hitting three three-pointers in a row was a major factor in the way this game turned out," declared O'Brien.

Clark was not just responsible for hitting three straight long bombs, but was also the team's leading scorer with 34 points. He managed an unbelievable 13-of-21 (61.9%) shooting clip, and also converted on six of his 10 tries from long range (60%). Deng Bol (18) and Jarvis Jennings (10) were the other Moundbuilders to put up double-digit point totals in the victory.

Andrew O'Brien had a total of five assists to lead the roster, while Jennings was second on the squad with three. Both Bol and Cooper Pierce were able to dish out a pair of assists in the tilt, as well.

O'Brien came up with a team-high in rebounds, having secured 12 of them overall. He had four offensive backboards and tallied eight on defense. Pierce's nine boards were important to the team's success, as well, and Bol had the third highest mark with seven rebounds in the battle.

Pierce had a nice night as a rim protector, sending back three Bethel shot attempts. Clark and Trey White also had a blocked shot to their credit. The six total steals for Southwestern were spread rather evenly across the roster, but Clark did lead the side with two thefts. Bol, O'Brien, Trey Abasolo and Phillip Smith had the remaining four robberies.

Another KCAC battle stands just around the corner, as Southwestern (14-1, 8-1 KCAC) will return to Stewart Field House for their second bout of 2023 against the rival Friends University Falcons on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. The Builders will be searching for their ninth win of the conference campaign.

--buildersports.com--