WINFIELD, Kan. – The Southwestern College Moundbuilders (7-2, 2-2) travel to Mabee Fieldhouse Saturday, December 7th 2024  to take on the Avila University Golden Eagles (6-3, 3-1). Southwestern aims to extend their winning streak following dominant performances in home victories against Haskell and Ottawa, while Avila looks to rebound and defend their home court after recent struggles on the road.
Avila enters Saturday's game with a 3-1 conference record, boasting a strong home-court advantage with an undefeated 3-0 record at Mabee Fieldhouse. The Golden Eagles have been a formidable force in the KCAC, particularly behind the standout performances of their key players.
Xavier Kahube leads the charge for Avila, averaging an impressive 19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Kahube's dominance on both ends of the floor earned him his second KCAC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season.
Supporting him is Brionne Williams, a transfer player who has been lethal from the field, shooting 63.2% overall and providing 13.1 points per game. From beyond the arc, Joe Kearney is a constant threat, averaging 11.6 points and shooting 38.0% from three-point range.
The Eagles' well-balanced offense has been challenging to contain, with multiple scoring threats capable of taking over the game.
Southwestern travels to Kansas City riding the momentum of a convincing win over Ottawa. With a 7-2 overall record, the Builders are laser-focused on securing a crucial conference victory.
Leading the charge is Wyatt Bell, who continues to shine as the Builders' top scorer, averaging 18.7 points per game. Complementing Bell's efforts is sharpshooter Evan Barber, who is connecting on an impressive 54% of his three-point attempts while contributing as a playmaker.
On the boards, Zach Hidalgo has been a standout, averaging a staggering 14.0 rebounds per game, making him a critical piece in Southwestern's defensive and offensive rebounding efforts. Additionally, Trey Abasolo adds depth to the Builders' attack, shooting 45.8% from three while also contributing 6.9 rebounds per game and coming off of a 12 rebound game against Ottawa.
Hidalgo and Abasolo contribute significantly to Southwestern leading the nation in offensive rebounding.Â
As a team, the Moundbuilders are shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three on the season. They will need to match or exceed these numbers to counter Avila's potent offensive weapons.
