WINFIELD, Kan. – Southwestern College secured a 79-71 victory over the Avila Golden Eagles in a hard-fought conference match up.

The Moundbuilders were tied  at halftime, 42-42, and managed to hold off a late charge from the Golden Eagles in the second half. Southwestern used a balanced scoring attack, with three players finishing in double figures.

Wyatt Bell was the standout for Southwestern, finishing with a game-high 25 points. Bell connected on 10 of 19 attempts from the field, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. He also added seven rebounds and one assist in 33 minutes of play. Austin Hilton contributed 19 points, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, while Trey Abasolo added eight points, four rebounds, and three assists.

The Golden Eagles made a strong push in the second half, led by Xavier Kahube, who scored 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting. George Williams also chipped in with 13 points and three rebounds for Avila. Despite their efforts, the Golden Eagles could not overcome the Moundbuilders' offensive efficiency and defense.

Southwestern controlled the glass, outrebounding Avila 39-28, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points. The Moundbuilders shot 47.5% from the field and were 11-of-30 from three-point range.

Avila struggled with turnovers, committing 11 compared to Southwestern's seven, which helped the Moundbuilders maintain control of the game.

Southwestern's win improves their overall record to 15-5, while Avila drops to 9-10 on the season.

The Builders next match up is against Bethel College Jan 29 right here at Stewart Field House. Tip off is scheduled for next 7 PM.