LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Southwestern College Moundbuilders return to action on Saturday, November 8, as they face off against the Park University (Kan.) Pirates in the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic, hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University.
Southwestern enters the matchup riding high after an explosive offensive performance in their season opener, taking down Benedictine College (Kan.) in a thrilling 73–49 shootout. The Moundbuilders' up-tempo offense fired on all cylinders, lighting up the scoreboard and showcasing their depth and balance across all positions.
Now, Southwestern looks to carry that momentum into Saturday's contest against a Park University squad searching for its first win of the season. The Pirates, led by longtime head coach Jason Kline, are 0–3 to start the year but have faced one of the toughest early-season schedules in the NAIA. Their losses include matchups against national powerhouses Georgetown College (ranked No. 2 nationally) and Arizona Christian University (ranked No. 3 nationally).
Park is also coming off a defeat tonight against Haskell Indian Nations University, the host of this weekend's classic, and will be on the back end of a demanding back-to-back stretch—playing two games within a 24-hour span. That scheduling challenge could play right into Southwestern's hands, as the Moundbuilders boast a deep rotation capable of maintaining pressure throughout all four quarters.
Expect Southwestern to lean on its pace, ball movement and defensive intensity to wear down the Pirates early. The Moundbuilders' bench depth and conditioning could prove to be the difference as they look to keep their perfect start intact and continue building momentum through the early part of the season. They will lean on the veteran presence of senior Wyatt Bell (23 PPG, 6 RPG) and junior Evan Barber (17.3 PPG, 4.3 APG) to stay perfect early in the 2025-2026 season.
Tip-off is set for Saturday in Lawrence, Kan., at 2:00 PM, as Southwestern aims to close out the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic with another statement performance.
