WINFIELD, Kan. — Behind a dominant performance on the boards and balanced scoring, the Southwestern College Moundbuilders pulled away from the Ottawa University Braves, securing a 76-58 victory in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) matchup Wednesday night at Stewart Field House.

The victory puts both teams at 7-2 on the season, and Ottawa suffers their first loss. 

The Moundbuilders established control early, using their size advantage to dominate inside. Senior forward Zach Hidalgo led the way with nearly a double-double in the first half putting up 10 points and eight rebounds, while Wyatt Bell added nine points. Southwestern outscored Ottawa 22-14 in the paint during the opening 20 minutes.

While Ottawa struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 31%, they managed to hang around thanks to their defense. Najee Jones provided a spark with eight first-half points, but the Braves' 0-for-6 performance from beyond the arc left them trailing 35-21 at the break. 

Southwestern continued to dominate the boards in the second half, finishing with a commanding 47-31 rebounding edge. Hidalgo completed his double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Trey Abasolo contributed 12 boards and eight points to help the Moundbuilders run away with this one. 

Ottawa briefly cut the deficit to eight midway through the second half behind a quick 7-0 run fueled by Jones and Deondre Buggage. However, Southwestern responded with a 12-2 run of their own, capped by a three-pointer from Austin Hilton, who came off the bench to score nine points on perfect shooting from the field. Wyatt Bell finished with a game-high 18 points.

The builders also played impeccable on the defensive side of the floor. Not one of Ottawa's top scorers reached their point average tonight, signifying the builders tenacity to guard their yard. The Braves also suffered shooting the basketball, finishing 5-21 from three-point land. 

 

Key Performers

Southwestern College:

• Zach Hidalgo: 14 points, 14 rebounds
• Wyatt Bell: 18 points, 4 rebounds
• Evan Barber: 14 points, 6-for-6 free throws, 3 assists

Ottawa University:

• Najee Jones: 14 points, 5 rebounds
• Deondre Buggage: 11 points, 2 rebounds
• Keith Robinson: 10 points, 6 rebounds