WINFIELD, Kan. – The Southwestern College men's basketball team wrapped up a competitive 2024-25 campaign with an 18-11 overall record, finishing 12-10 in KCAC play. Despite a strong start and key victories over ranked opponents, the Moundbuilders' season ended with three consecutive losses, including a tightly contested 86-78 defeat at Saint Mary in the KCAC tournament.
Southwestern showcased offensive firepower throughout the season, averaging 79.4 points per game while shooting 44.3% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc. The Moundbuilders were particularly dominant from long range, knocking down a KCAC-best 314 three-pointers. Three players—Austin Hilton, Trey Abasolo, and Evan Barber—shot over 40% from beyond the arc, with Hilton ranking second in the conference with a 47.2% mark.
The Moundbuilders also established themselves as the premier rebounding team in the KCAC, leading the conference in defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, and overall rebounding margin. The team averaged 43.4 rebounds per game, boasting a league-best +12.9 margin. Junior center Zach Hidalgo played a pivotal role, securing 372 rebounds, which led the KCAC and ranked third nationally.
Defensively, Southwestern set the standard in the conference. The Moundbuilders held opponents to a KCAC-low 41.4% shooting from the field and allowed just 70.1 points per game, also the best mark in the league. They limited opposing teams to just 8.1 offensive rebounds per contest and 9.7 assists per game, both of which ranked first in the KCAC.
Three Moundbuilders earned All-KCAC honors for their performances this season.
Junior guard Wyatt Bell was named to the All-KCAC Second Team after leading the team in scoring with 435 points (16.7 per game) while shooting 44.1% from the floor.
Hidalgo earned Third Team All-KCAC recognition and was also selected to the KCAC All-Defensive Team for his rebounding prowess.
Senior guard Trey Abasolo was an Honorable Mention selection after finishing second on the team with 172 rebounds, including 71 on the offensive glass—making him the only guard in the top six KCAC offensive rebounders.
Senior Justin DeMaria was another key contributor from beyond the arc, finishing fifth in the KCAC with 69 made three-pointers and tallying 364 points on the season.
Meanwhile, Evan Barber ranked eighth in the KCAC with 93 total assists, and Donovan Kinney showcased his efficiency, finishing fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.1.
Southwestern opened the season with a dominant non-conference stretch, highlighted by victories over Benedictine (67-52) and Northern New Mexico (96-68). The Moundbuilders carried that momentum into KCAC play, picking up crucial wins against Evangel, McPherson, and Kansas Wesleyan.
However, narrow losses hampered their postseason push. Multiple one-point defeats—including setbacks to Evangel (85-84), York (66-65), Friends (78-77), and Saint Mary (62-61)—impacted their final seeding. Despite the late-season struggles, Southwestern proved to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the KCAC, excelling in rebounding, three-point shooting, and defensive efficiency.
