WICHITA - After two exhibition games against NCAA Div. 1 Opponents, the Newman men's basketball team finally opened its regular season with a 73-60 win over NAIA foe Tabor Monday night inside Fugate Gymnasium. Keaton Schultz led the Jets with 16 points in the game.

Tabor (1-3) wasn't intimidated by the NCAA Div. II game environment, and hung with Newman (1-0) early in the contest. At the first media time out, the Jets found themselves in a 10-10 tie.

Newman made its statement over the course of the next five minutes, using an 8-0 run to claim an 18-10 advantage midway through the first half. Tabor battled back, cutting to within one at 24-23 on a Kyle Kroeker jumper with 7:02 remaining, but the Jets put together a 12-5 rally to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Jets were never seriously threatened in the second half, owning a 15-point, 62-47 lead by the 10 minute mark of the final frame, and never led by less than 11 from that point forward, cruising home with the 73-60 season-opening win.

Keaton Schultz found his touch from long range, burying four three-pointers on his way to a 16-point outing. Schultz also added five rebounds and two assists for good measure. Senior Jaray Mathews posted his first double-double of the season with a 12-point, 11-rebound outing, while junior transfer Justin Berry added 12 points of his own from the post.

Damon Dechant's 16 points and seven rebounds led the Bluejays in the contest.

As a team, the Jets shot 43.8 percent from the floor, and 28 percent from long range, but struggles at the free throw line kept the game from reaching blowout status. Newman was able to convert just 10 of its 21 free throw attempts for a 47.6 percentage from the charity stripe.

The Jets will get another shot at an NAIA opponent when they host the Bethel Threshers Wednesday evening. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.