WINFIELD, Kan. — The Southwestern College Moundbuilders aim to bounce back from a narrow overtime road loss to Evangel University as they host McPherson College on Saturday in a KCAC matchup at Stewart Field House.
Southwestern (11-4, 5-4) sits tied for fifth place in the conference standings, alongside Bethel College. With the race for a top spot heating up, every game carries added significance. The Moundbuilders boast the nation's best rebounding margin at +17.6, anchored by senior Zach Hidalgo, who ranks fourth in the nation with 12.5 rebounds per game. Hidalgo's dominance in the paint has powered Southwestern's success, helping them average 46.9 boards per contest.
In their first meeting this season, Southwestern earned a thrilling 89-86 victory over McPherson on November 16 at Holman Fieldhouse. Hidalgo dominated the glass with 17 rebounds and added 21 points. Junior Evan Barber led all scorers with 26 points on 55.6% shooting, including three three-pointers. Southwestern capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 27 points off offensive rebounds, while their defense forced 12 turnovers to gain an edge.
Junior Wyatt Bell continues to lead the Moundbuilders in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game, while senior Trey Abasolo adds 10.5 points on 53.5% shooting. Junior Austin Hilton has been a key contributor off the bench, shooting an impressive 51.4% from beyond the arc.
McPherson (6-9, 4-5 ) enters the matchup with momentum, riding a two-game winning streak to ninth place in the standings. The Bulldogs are led by Curtis Rose, who averages 13.9 points per game and is shooting 89% from the free-throw line. Collin Storr adds a strong presence in the post, averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. McPherson's +2.2 rebounding margin and disciplined free-throw shooting (78.2%) could pose challenges for the Moundbuilders.
Both teams are looking to solidify their standing in the tightly contested KCAC. Southwestern will look to exploit McPherson's perimeter defense, which allows 8.2 three-pointers per game, while the Bulldogs hope to contain Southwestern's high-powered offense, which averages 81.3 points per game.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Stewart Field House, where Southwestern hopes to defend their home court and climb higher in the conference race.
