WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College heads back on the road Wednesday night for a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup against Bethel College at Thresher Gym. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. as the Moundbuilders enter at 14–6 overall and 8–6 in conference play.
Southwestern is coming off a 75–65 loss at Avila on Monday, a game in which the Moundbuilders stayed within striking distance throughout before Avila pulled away late. Southwestern applied consistent defensive pressure and remained competitive into the final minutes.
Wyatt Bell leads the Moundbuilders at 19.1 points per game this season, while Evan Barber is averaging 15.0 points per game and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range. Nigel John adds 13.3 points per game on efficient shooting, and Zach Hidalgo anchors the interior with a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
Bethel enters the contest 15–5 overall and 10–4 in KCAC play after an 82–77 loss to McPherson College. The Threshers are led by head coach Jayson Artaz, who is in his eighth season at Bethel.
Carmelo Yakubu leads Bethel with 16.4 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field. Trenton Patterson averages 13.4 points per game and is shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range, while Albert Diarra contributes 10.4 points per game on 65.9 percent shooting. Rustan Griffen (10.3 points per game) and Dominick Harris (9.1 points per game) add scoring depth for the Threshers.
The last meeting between the two programs came on Nov. 15 in Winfield, when Bethel rallied from a late deficit to defeat Southwestern 93–85 in overtime at Stewart Field House. The Moundbuilders led for much of the contest, but Bethel forced overtime and pulled away in the extra period to secure the road victory.
