KWU Sports Information
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – A valiant last ditch run the final 3 minutes, 43 seconds of the game wasn't enough to rescue the 13th ranked Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes.
KWU cut a 14-point deficit to four points with 1½ minutes left but couldn't close the deal in a 60-55 Kansas Conference loss to second-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan on Wednesday night in the Mueller Sports Center.
The loss dropped the Coyotes to 20-3 overall, 14-3 in the KCAC and ended a three-game winning streak. OKWU improved to 21-3 and 16-2.
KWU led 29-26 at halftime and back-to-back baskets by Jun Murdock extended the Coyotes' advantage to 36-32 with 17:43 left in the game. That's when OKWU seemingly flipped the switch.
The Eagles scored the next 12 points and the run eventually grew to 25-7, giving them a 57-43 lead with 4:47 left in the game. KWU couldn't keep pace offensively during the surge, going 3 of 17 from the field.
The Coyotes weren't finished, though.
Easton Hunter's back-to-back 3-pointers ignited a 10-0 run that got KWU within 59-55 with 1:32 remaining. The comeback fell short as the Coyotes committed a turnover and missed their last three shots the rest of the way.
OKWU scored one point the final 3:56 going 0 for 5 from the field, 1 for 3 from the free throw line and committing a turnover.
The Coyotes also rallied in the first half. Trailing 10-2 early on they went on an 18-4 run, the surge ignited once again by a pair of Hunter 3-pointers. They led 20-14 with 8:50 left in the half following an Alex Littlejohn basket but OKWU regained a 26-25 lead before the Coyotes scored the last four points of the half.
Hunter led KWU with 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. Littlejohn had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season and also had five assists. Murdock had 13 points and four rebounds.
The Coyotes shot just 31 percent for the game, 21 of 68, and were 8 of 25 from deep. They also were outrebounded 46-38. Both teams had 12 turnovers.
Jaden Lietzke, OKWU's 6-foot-7 center, was dominant inside with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Kaleb Stokes also had a double-double finishing with 12 points and 17 rebounds. The Eagles shot 40.6 percent (26 of 64) but were 2 of 19 from long range.
The outcome was much closer than their meeting December 3 in Mabee Arena when OKWU won 75-44.
The Coyotes, who were playing their fifth road game in their six last outings, go back on the road again Saturday for a game at Ottawa starting at 7 p.m. The Braves (11-12, 8-9 KCAC) defeated Friends 88-82 Wednesday in Ottawa.