WINFIELD, Kan, — Southwestern College knocked off nationally ranked Friends University with a 74-71 win Wednesday night in Winfield, Kansas, holding off a late Falcons push to earn the KCAC victory.

Wyatt Bell led Southwestern with 19 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting night, while also pulling down 10 rebounds to anchor the Moundbuilders inside. Jayden Bridgeman chipped in 10 points and four rebounds for Southwestern and Isaac Hoberecht added 12 points, including a pair of free throws in the final second, as Southwestern improved to 12-5 overall and 6-5 in KCAC play. 

Southwestern built a 40-36 lead at halftime behind a strong offensive first half, shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Bell scored 15 of his 19 points before the break, repeatedly finishing in the paint as the Moundbuilders controlled the glass.

Friends (13-4, 8-3 KCAC), the No. 14 team in the NAIA, kept the game tight throughout the second half and briefly took the lead midway through the period. Cahlese Lee paced the Falcons with 18 points, while Eli Benning added 14 off the bench.

The Moundbuilders answered with balanced scoring down the stretch as Austin Hilton knocked down a key three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining to push Southwestern in front, and the Moundbuilders were steady at the free-throw line late to seal the win.

Southwestern finished the night shooting 51.9 percent from the field and outrebounded Friends 37-27, scoring 42 points in the paint to make the difference in the closely contested KCAC matchup.

Southwestern will return to action Saturday, January 17, when it hosts the Sterling College Warriors in Winfield at 3:00 PM. Sterling enters the contest 7-10 overall and 4-7 in KCAC play.