Izaiah Hale knew it was going to be his night when his first shot from beyond the 3-point line went in.
So, he shot another one on Kansas Wesleyan's next possession and another on the third trip down the floor, all with the same results. Nine points on three shots in just over a minute.
"I was confident in the beginning but watching that first shot go in I was just ready to keep shooting," said Hale, a senior guard."This was my night."
Indeed, it was. Hale scored 23 points that included 6 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc as KWU outlasted Wayland Baptist 73-63 in the final game of the Coyote Classic on Saturday night inside Mabee Arena.
The Coyotes shot 46.3 percent overall for the game (25 of 54) but were better from long distance at 50 percent (14 of 28). Easton Hunter and newcomer Landon Wagler made three 3s apiece.
"This was a night when we really needed to hit shots from the perimeter and we hit the timely ones which are always big," KWU coach Anthony Monson said. "We've worked hard in the preseason and their work's paying off for them. That was definitely something we needed tonight."
Hale, who averaged 10.2 points and shot 35 percent from 3-point range a year ago, scored 12 points in the first half on four 3-pointers and helped the Coyotes take a 38-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.
He scored seven consecutive points midway through the second half that included his sixth 3-pointer.
"I said he's probably going to be that scoring guard that can score a bunch of different ways for us and he did a really good job of that tonight," Monson said. "The way the game went tonight we tried to get as many shooters on the floor as we could. They were double (teaming) Alex (Littlejohn) all night long."
Littlejohn had another huge game despite the defensive pressure finishing with his usual double-double - 14 points and 13 rebounds - to go along with four blocks and three assists.
Hale also spent some time playing point guard with backup Tucker Bowman out.
"I played some point guard last year so I was pretty comfortable with that," Hale said.
Wayland Baptist (0-3) stayed close the second half, but the Coyotes were able to keep them at arm's length. The Pioneers got within three (45-42) and within four twice (60-56 and 62-58) but KWU answered each time.
Leading 67-62 Hunter buried a pivotal 3-pointer with 54 seconds left. A WBU free throw cut the deficit to 70-63 with 46.4 seconds left but Caden Hale sealed it with three free throws in the final 27.6 seconds. The Pioneers missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity and missed two field goal attempts just before time expired.
WBU shot 38 percent (27 of 71) and was led by guard Quenton Coleman's 15 points. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 41-31 and had 13 second-chance points - statistics that got Monson's attention.
"We've got to do a better job on the glass," he said. "We've got size, we've got guys who can get it done."
Overall, Monson was pleased with the victory over a team that was 23-11 and advanced to the semifinals of the NAIA National Championship last season.
"That team should not be 0-3," he said of WBU. "They've got some people injured; they've got some people not eligible yet, but they gave a ton of effort, they're very talented and are well coached. We're going to see them again Thanksgiving weekend at their place and it will probably be a dogfight."