BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — The Southwestern College men's basketball team will travel to Bartlesville on Saturday for a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal matchup against top-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Mueller Sports Center.
The Moundbuilders enter the semifinal round fresh off a 67-65 victory over No. 4 seed Bethel College. All-KCAC First-team selection Wyatt Bell paced Southwestern with 18 points, while Austin Hilton provided a spark off the bench with 17 points in the quarterfinal win.
Saturday's contest will mark the third meeting of the season between the two programs. Oklahoma Wesleyan claimed an 81-76 victory in December in Bartlesville, while Southwestern answered in the most recent matchup, earning an 83-80 win over the Eagles inside Stewart Fieldhouse. Bell led the Builders in that victory with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Evan Barber and Hilton added 15 points apiece.
Southwestern holds a 7-6 all-time record against Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville.
The No. 3 nationally ranked Eagles advanced to the semifinals with a 76-59 win over No. 8 seed Avila. KCAC Player of the Year Tamaje Izuagbe recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds in the victory, while Yashi McKenzie scored 20 points off the bench.
With a win Saturday, Southwestern would advance to its first KCAC Tournament championship game appearance since the 2022-23 season, when the Moundbuilders captured the conference tournament title.
Saturday's semifinal matchup sets up a rubber match between two teams that have already traded close decisions this season, with a trip to the KCAC Tournament championship on the line.
