WINFIELD - Facing an uphill climb in their quest for a berth in the upcoming Kansas Conference postseason tournament the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes produced one of their best performances of the year.
Freshman Brandon Avedon scored a career-high 27 points and senior Stefan Spray had a career-best 21 as KWU upset Southwestern 94-90 Saturday afternoon inside Stewart Fieldhouse.
The Coyotes improved to 12-14, 10-10 in the KCAC and tied with Avila for eighth in the standings with two games left in the regular season. The top eight teams in the final standings qualify for the tournament. Avila outlasted Sterling 80-76 Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
Tied at 40 at halftime, KWU opened the second half with a 10-4 run and led 50-44 with 16:10 left in the game. A 9-2 spurt - Avedon and Spray scoring four each - gave the Coyotes their biggest lead of the game, 64-51, with 11:46 remaining.
Southwestern, which entered the game having won five in a row and eight of nine, stayed within striking distance. A late surge got the Moundbuilders within three twice in the final minute 89-86 and 91-88 - the second with 38 seconds left.
KWU sealed the deal, though, as Caiden Punt, Matthew Garber and Spray each made 1 of 2 free throws down the stretch.
"These guys showed up," coach Jordan Murdock said on the postgame radio show, "and you know for us that's a big deal. We've been through a lot of adversity, especially with these young guys. I felt like it was a collective effort tonight. We played well."
Avedon was 7 of 11 from the field including a pair of 3-pointers, 11 of 13 at the free throw line and had five assists.
"Two of (his three) turnovers came early in the first half and so he did a really good job at moving on, not letting the other things get to him," Murdock said. "He's a special talent and obviously it was showcased tonight."
Spray, the Coyotes' backup center, was 9 of 10 from the field and had six rebounds. He's averaging 15 points in his last three games.
"Stef was huge for us," Murdock said. "He didn't let (four fouls) discourage him from how hard he was playing. He's a senior and we looked at him for leadership, and he stepped up tonight so props to Stef."
Caiden Punt added 15 points and six rebounds, and Braylin Goins had 11 points and seven assists. The Coyotes shot 54 percent (31 of 57) and were 6 of 16 from the 3-point line. They also committed just nine turnovers.
Southwestern shot 51 percent (33 of 65) from the field, was 7 of 21 from deep and had seven turnovers. Wyatt Bell had 26 points and Nigel John 21.
"We were poised, especially down the stretch," Murdock said. "That's a hard fighting Southwestern team, they're a really good ballclub and so I'm just ecstatic for our guys."