[Men's Basketball] MBB Falcons National Tournament Team is Powered Locally

WICHITA, Kan. – When the No. 23-ranked Friends University Falcons take the floor in the NAIA D-II National Tournament this Thursday morning (Mar. 6) for the first time since the 2014-15 season, it will prominently feature standout student-athletes from right here in Wichita.

Of the 15 athletes listed on the Falcons' NAIA postseason roster, five are from Wichita and two more from neighboring towns.

 "For us, recruiting the Wichita area is a no-brainer and a key to our success," Friends head coach Dale Faber said. "We work our way out from Wichita."

Three of the Falcons' top five scorers this season call Wichita their home, not including James Conley (JR/Derby, Kan. ), who is second in scoring (14.2 ppg) and is from nearby Derby, Kan.

Highlighting the group is senior forward Jordan Murdock (SR/Wichita, Kan.), last season's KCAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-KCAC performer this season.  Murdock leads the Falcons and is third in the KCAC in scoring (27.7 ppg), while also pacing the team and ranking second in the league in assists (4.7 apg).

Atir Cherne (SR/Wichita, Kan.) is scoring 11.1 ppg and is second on the team in threes (55), with Zion Fralin (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) also averaging double-figure scoring (10.0) that includes 24.5 ppg in his last two outings.

Two more Wichita natives, Luke Evans (FR/Wichita, Kan. ) and Anthoney Collins (SO/Wichita, Kan. ), have also made their mark this season from the perimeter in their first year with the program.  Evans has played in 30 games and has hit 36.9 percent (31-of-84) of his three-point attempts, while Collins has made 25 appearances and has knocked down 36.2 percent (17-of-47) from beyond the arc.

Tate Vang (SO/Goddard, Kan. ), from nearby Goddard, Kan., has also seen valuable minutes in 30 outings this season.

"Our Wichita players average 74 points per game this year with four in double-figures," Faber said. "It's a big plus for all to keep players close. Families can still enjoy watching in person and I find our area players never hesitate when there is a chance to give back to the community in any way."

The Falcons are the sixth seed in the in the Cramer Bracket and will matchup against third-seeded Cornerstone (Mich.) Thursday (Mar. 7) morning at 8:30 am (CST) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

To watch the Falcons on Thursday, click HERE.