Jun Murdock (SO/Wichita, Kan.) certainly knows how to make a favorable first impression.
Playing in his inaugural home game as a member of the Kansas Wesleyan basketball team Murdock showed why Coyotes' coach Anthony Monson and everyone associated with the program has raved about his skills and prowess since his arrival more than a year ago.
Murdock, the team's starting point guard, scored 21 points, handed out four assists and had a steal in 22 minutes as Wesleyan routed Dakota State 102-57 in the Coyote Classic on Friday night inside Mabee Arena.
Murdock, who transferred to KWU from Friends after the 2019-20 season, was 7 of 9 from the field – 4 of 4 from 3-point range – and deftly ran the offense. The Coyotes shot a scorching 63.3 percent for the game (38 of 60) and were 10 of 22 from deep.
"I was pretty anxious when I got to the game, I've been ready to play here for the longest time," said Murdock, who was chosen the Kansas Conference's Freshman of the Year after the '19-20 season. "It felt like forever last year. It felt great being out there with my brothers and getting a win."
Murdock ignited the Coyotes at the start scoring 10 consecutive points in the first 3½ minutes that gave them a 12-4 lead. A 14-3 run made it 28-12 with 11:10 left in the half and Dakota State (1-5) got no closer than 13 the rest of the game.
KWU (2-0) led 52-27 at halftime with Murdock accounting for 16. After DSU scored the first three points of the second half the Coyotes went on a 27-3 surge and led 85-37 with 8:20 remaining. They led by as many as 50 (99-49) late in the game.
Marcel Dean (SO/Tucson, Ariz.), a transfer from Pima College (Ariz.), had 15 points off the bench on 4 of 5 shooting – 4 for 4 from 3-point range – and Micah Lovett (FR/Tulsa, Okla.) scored 10 also off the bench. Seventeen Coyotes played, 11 logging at least 11 minutes, and 13 scored.
Wesleyan won the rebounding battle 39-30, forced 21 DSU turnovers that led to 31 points and outscored the Trojans 50-22 in the paint.
"In practice we go at each other every day, iron sharpens iron," Murdock said. "We play hard every day in practice and we make each other better and trust each other."
Monson, like everyone else in attendance, was duly impressed.
"It's a fun group, it's a talented group," he said. "They play hard, they're really talented shooting, they're athletic … it's fun being the coach of this team."
Monson also enjoyed watching Murdock perform in a game once again after more than a year of seeing him only in practice.
"I think he's a calming effect on the entire team," he said. "He gets us off to a good start, gets us where we need to be, plays both ends of the floor, which is nice. And he wants the ball, he's not afraid to take the big shots.
"He comes from a family of stud basketball players and he's just the next one in line (his brother Jordan was an All-American at Friends and is a KWU assistant coach). He's really good and he's only a sophomore."
Dakota State shot 35 percent (22 of 63) and was led by Ryan Schuster's 10 points.
Monson said the game illustrates the improvements in this year's team.
"I think it goes to show the depth that we have and the talent we have," he said. "We have to make sure that we don't ruin it ourselves. We've got a good thing going here and we've got to keep it going."
KWU plays Clarke at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Pride (1-1) defeated Bethany 75-62 in a game Friday afternoon in the Classic.
"We've got to come out and play hard," Murdock said. "You've got to respect every team, every opponent so we'll be ready."