Fans and family had, for the most part, departed Mabee Arena following Kansas Wesleyan's basketball game Saturday night.
A few remained, though, talking with friends and relatives. On the court a small group of boys shot mini-basketballs at the east goal mimicking what they had witnessed during the Coyotes' 71-59 Kansas Conference victory over Tabor.
It was at that moment KWU post player AJ Range (SR/Junction City, Kan.) reappeared in his practice attire, basketball in hand, and stationed himself at the free throw line to work on an aspect of his game he wasn't happy with – the youngsters eager to rebound and join in.
Range scored a game-high 20 points – all in the first half – but missed four of his nine free throw attempts.
"We kept feeding (the ball) inside, I was getting my positions there and making my layups," Range said. "I was getting to the free throw line even though I couldn't finish some of them."
Range also had seven rebounds in 35 grueling minutes of play but had enough energy to return to the arena for additional work – a common occurrence for KWU's fifth-year senior leader and three-time All-KCAC selection.
The Coyotes' offense mostly originated from the perimeter the second half led by point guard Jun Murdock (SO/Wichita, Kan.), who scored 12 of his 15 points after the break.
"The second half was more guard oriented," KWU coach Anthony Monson said. "We've got to find some better balance, we kind of went away from A.J. at times and that wasn't intentional. We've got to get more guys going and keep them involved in the game."
It starts with Range and Murdock, though.
"A.J. and Jun have to lead us," Monson said. "Jun's the outside presence, A.J.'s the inside presence. When those two are at their best we're at our best."
The victory was the third in a row and third of the week for KWU, now 17-7 overall, 12-7 KCAC. Tabor fell to 6-15 and 4-14.
Range said the Coyotes are trying to step up their play as the regular season enters the home stretch.
"Our goal is to be playing our best basketball by the time we get to the end of February," he said. "It looks like we're getting back to the beginning of the year when we were flying around on defense and getting stops and letting that create our offense."
Tied at 23 with just under five minutes left in the first half Wesleyan went on a 12-3 run and led 35-26 at the break. Tabor got no closer than eight (58-50) the second half but the Coyotes couldn't bury the Bluejays – their biggest lead of the night 51-36.
"Every time it seemed like we were going to be able to go on a run they'd come down and hit a 3 or and-one," Monson said. "We couldn't get past that 10, 12, 13-point mark. We've got to figure out a way when we have an opportunity to blow open a game like that."
That said, Monson was thrilled with the victory.
"You take any win you can at this point in the year," he said. "If we can handle our business on Wednesday (against Saint Mary) and go up there and get a good win on the road then we get that bye (Saturday) and can get a little bit of rest and get ready for the stretch run the last four games."
Tyus Jeffries (SR/Oklahoma City, Okla.) added 11 points and seven rebounds while Marcel Dean (SO/Tucson, Ariz.) and Alex Littlejohn (FR/Newton, Kan.) each scored nine for the Coyotes, who shot 47.3 percent (26 of 55) but were 13 of 23 at the line. They scored 18 points off 17 Tabor turnovers.
The Bluejays shot 43 percent (22 of 51) and were led by Montel Stewart's 12 points and six rebounds.
Wednesday's game starts at 8 p.m. in the Ryan Sports Center in Leavenworth.
Saint Mary (9-15, 5-13) was idle Saturday but has lost six of its last seven games, two of them forfeits due to COVID-19 issues.