Izaiah Hale knew it would be his night when his first shot from beyond the 3-point line went in.

So, he fired another one on Kansas Wesleyan’s next possession and another on the third trip down the field, all with the same results. Nine points on three shots in just over a minute.

“I was confident at first, but watching that first shot, I was ready to keep shooting,” said Hale, a senior guard. “It was my night.”

Indeed, it was. Hale scored 23 points, including 6 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc as KWU outlasted Wayland Baptist 73-63 in the final game of the Coyote Classic 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 makes three 3s each.

“It was a night where we really needed to hit from the perimeter and we made the timely shots which are always big,” the KWU coach said. Anthony Monson said. “We worked hard during the preseason and their work is paying off. It was definitely something we needed tonight.”

Hale, who averaged 10.2 points and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range a year ago, scored 12 points in the first half on four 3-pointers and helped the Coyotes take a lead 38-29 in the locker room at halftime.

He scored seven straight points midway through the second half, including his sixth 3-pointer.

“I said he would probably be that goalie that can score in different ways for us and he did a really good job tonight,” Monson said. “The way the game played out tonight, we tried to get as many shooters on the floor as possible. They double-teamed Alex (Littlejohn) all night.”

Littlejohn had another huge game despite the defensive pressure, finishing with his usual double-double – 14 points and 13 rebounds – along with four blocks and three assists.

Hale also spent time playing point guard with backups Tucker Bowman out.

“I played point guard last year, so I was pretty comfortable with that,” Hale said.

Wayland Baptist (0-3) stayed close in the second half, but the Coyotes were able to keep them at arm’s length. The Pioneers came close three times (45-42) and four times (60-56 and 62-58) but KWU responded each time.

Leading 67-62, Hunter buried a crucial 3-point basket with 54 seconds remaining. A WBU free throw cut the deficit to 70-63 with 46.4 seconds remaining, but Caden Hale sealed it with three free throws in the final 27.6 seconds. The Pioneers missed the start of a one-on-one free throw opportunity and missed two field goal attempts just before time expired.

UMA shot 38 percent (27 of 71) and was led by guard Quenton Coleman with 15 points. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 41-31 and had 13 second-chance points — stats that caught Monson’s attention.

“We need to do a better job on the glass,” he said. “We have size, we have guys who can get it done.”

Overall, Monson was happy with the win over a team that went 23-11 and advanced to the NAIA National Championship semifinals last season.

“This team shouldn’t be 0-3,” he said of WBU. “They have some injuries; there are people who are not yet eligible, but they have put in a lot of effort, they are very talented and well trained. We are going to see them again on Thanksgiving weekend at their home and this will probably be a dogfight.