Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball's furious rally in the final minutes of Saturday's game against the Avila University Eagles came up just short as the Coyotes fell 75-71 against the Eagles inside Mabee Arena.
Wesleyan trailed by eight points with 2:21 left in the game, but five straight points on a Caiden Punt 3-pointer and a bucket by Brandon Avedon got the Coyotes within three with just under a minute left.
Neither team scored until Braylin Goins hit 1 of 2 free throws with 13 seconds left to get the Coyotes within two at 73-71. On the missed second free throw, it appeared Wesleyan had the rebound on the alternating possession, but the arrow was never changed after the second half started and it was not realized by the officials until the tie-up. After a discussion, possession was awarded to Avila.
Avila would hit two free throws to seal the game with seven seconds left.
The Coyotes fell behind 6-0 to start the game, but came back and took a 10-8 lead on a Punt triple with 14:37 to go in the first.
Stefan Spray gave the Coyotes a 17-16 lead but an Avila triple gave the Eagles a 19-17 lead. Avedon tied it for the Coyotes with 10:30 to go in the half, but a 7-0 Avila run over the next four minutes gave the Eagles a 26-19 lead.
Avila led by seven at the half.
The Coyotes came out of the halftime break on a roll, using an 8-2 run to get within a point at 38-37 with 17:47 left. A 3-pointer by Goins put the Coyotes up 44-42 with 15:15 left in the game.
Avila answered back with a 14-1 run to take a 56-45 lead with 10:43 left. After the teams traded baskets again, the Eagles again led by 11 with 9:37 left when the Coyotes made a push, cutting the difference to three with 4:05 to go on an Avedon bucket.
Punt had another masterful game leading all scorers with 32 points on 12 of 16 shooting as KWU shot 57.7 percent (15 of 26) in the second half. Appolon added 10, along with Avedon who dished out eight assists and grabbed eight rebounds.