WICHITA, Kan. - It took two halves, plus four overtime periods to decide the winner of the NAIA Tournament round one matchup between No. 11 IU Southeast and No. 6 Friends (Kan.). But after sixty minutes of total game time, it was the Friends Falcons who prevailed 118-112 (4OT) over the IU Southeast Grenadiers in a thriller.
In the last six minutes of regulation, there were a total of six lead changes and two ties in the final minute. With four seconds left in regulation, the Grenadiers hit a free throw to go up 75-72, but Friends' Randy Woolf Jr. would hit a three pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime.
The first overtime period saw five ties and three lead changes. The Falcons forced a turnover with 20 seconds remaining, but the Grenadiers' defense held strong. Friends' Devin Davis missed a shot with 0:01 left, forcing a second overtime.
The Falcons came out firing in double overtime and led by as many as eight points. Trailing 92-84 with 2:39 remaining, the Grenadiers went to work. Jaden Johnson, off an assist from Trent Hinkle, sunk a three pointer. Then, after a defensive stop, Camden Pfeister hit a jump shot to cut the lead to three and then tied the game at 92-92, where the score would stay to force a third overtime.
IU Southeast had the script flipped in triple overtime. This time, it was the Grenadiers who held a late lead, only to see the Falcons tie the score late in the period. IU Southeast held a 100-96 lead with 1:43 remaining. The Falcons outscored the Grenadiers 6-2 over the rest of triple overtime to send the game to quadruple overtime.
The fourth overtime period was decided at the free throw line. The Falcons were 10-12 from the line in quadruple OT while IU Southeast was 3-6. Friends' effectiveness at the line proved to be the difference late, and the Falcons would go on to win 118-112.
Five Grenadiers finished in double figures, led by Hinkle with 30 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists. Cole Thomas had 20 points, while Pfseister had 18 points and ten rebounds. Johnson finished with 13 points, Nathanial Hoffman had 12, and Bailey Temming scored 10.
With Friday night's loss, the 2025-26 men's basketball season comes to an end. The Grenadiers finished the season with a record of 15-17 (12-4 RSC).
