WAXAHACHIE, Texas  — Southwestern College will open play in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament on Friday when the Moundbuilders face Benedictine University Mesa in a first-round matchup at the Sheaffer Center on the campus of Nelson University.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (CT).

Southwestern (21-9) enters the national tournament after reaching the semifinals of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The Moundbuilders averaged 80.7 points per game this season while shooting 50.7% from the field and 39.4% from 3-point range, helping them outscore opponents by about 11 points per game.

The Moundbuilders are led by Wyatt Bell, who averages 18.3 points per game, and Evan Barber, who contributes 14.5 points per game and leads the team with 84 made 3-pointers. Forward Nigel John adds 14.1 points per game while shooting 67.5% from the field, and center Zach Hildago anchors the interior with 9.6 rebounds per game.

Southwestern has been extremely strong on the glass, averaging 36.2 rebounds per game and holding a rebounding margin of +11. 

Benedictine Mesa (24-6) enters the tournament with one of the most productive offenses in the field, averaging 84.2 points per game while shooting 49.8% from the floor. The Redhawks also hold opponents to 39.5% shooting, giving them a scoring margin of nearly 15 points per game.

The Redhawks feature a balanced scoring attack led by Isaiah Howard, who averages 14.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, along with Damian Zivak (11.3 ppg) and Eric Blackwell (11.0 ppg). Malik Payton and Kamron Robinson each add more than 10 points per game, giving Benedictine five players averaging double figures.

Benedictine Mesa also brings defensive pressure, averaging 8.4 steals per game and forcing opponents into nearly 15 turnovers per contest.

Friday's winner will advance to the round of 32 in the NAIA National Tournament against the winner between top-seeded Nelson University and sixteen-seeded Arkansas Baptist.