Men's Basketball picks up 87-74 win over Sterling

Kansas Wesleyan's basketball juggernaut continues. 
 
Alex Littlejohn led five Coyotes scored in double figures as KWU cruised to an 87-74 Kansas Conference victory over Sterling on Wednesday night inside the Gleason Center. 
 
The Coyotes improved to 13-4 and 10-1 in the conference with their ninth consecutive victory. It also sets the stage for Saturday night's marquee clash against No. 4-ranked and KCAC co-leader Oklahoma Wesleyan in Mabee Arena. 
 
Littlejohn had a double-double scoring 19 points that included 13 of 14 shooting from the free throw line and grabbing 17 rebounds. Jun Murdock scored 18, Izaiah Hale 16, Cory Kaplan 12 and Thurbil Bile 10 to go along with 10 rebounds. Murdock added five assists and Hale finished with four 3-pointers (4 of 9), six rebounds and three steals. He has scored 43 points in the last two games. 
 
"They played hard, they made plays when they needed to make plays," KWU coach Anthony Monson said of his team. "There were times when it was a little rough, I think (Sterling) had something to do with that. The officials let us play a little bit and at times we found our rhythm." 
 
The Coyotes were in control from the get-go. They bolted to an early 19-10 lead, led the entire game, and were challenged only twice. Leading 31-17 with 6½ minutes left in the first half Sterling went on a 9-0 run that trimmed the deficit to 31-26 with three minutes remaining. Wesleyan answered with eight consecutive points, the last six on back-to-back Hale 3-pointers, and had a 39-26 halftime advantage.  
 
The Warriors got within eight twice in the second half, 54-46 and 56-48, but KWU responded once again, this time with a 14-6 surge that made it 70-54 with 9½ minutes left. Wesleyan led by as many as 22 (87-65) with just under two minutes left. 
 
The Coyotes shot 41.5 percent from the field (27 of 65), made 9 of their 26 3-point attempts, were a blistering 24 of 29 at the foul line and won the rebounding battle 45-38. Sterling shot 40.3 percent (27 of 67) and was 16 of 23 at the line.  
 
Mooch Austin led the Warriors (9-7, 5-6 KCAC) with 20 points. 
 
The victory also provided the Coyotes a measure of revenge after they lost to Sterling in the first round of last year's KCAC Tournament in Mabee Arena. 
 
"In the locker room I think it was personal a little bit just because of last year," Monson said. "Nothing against Sterling or their guys – I think they're a classy program. But when you get knocked out in the first round of the tournament and you were the 2-seed that hurts a little bit. We kind of had that reminder all day long. 
 
"Sterling's a good team, they're tough and do a lot of things well. We were fortunate enough to come in and get off to a good start and come away with a win." 
 
Oklahoma Wesleyan (16-1, 10-1 KCAC) walloped Friends 92-61 Wednesday in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The Eagles have won eight straight since losing to Southwestern 79-67 December 2 in Bartlesville. Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.