WICHITA - Newman overcame its worst performance of the season from the free throw line, and picked up a 77-61 win over Manhattan Christian College Saturday evening inside Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets hit just 11 of their 27 free throws in the contest.

Newman (4-2) made its statement early in the game, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to take a 6-0 edge less just less than a minute into the game. The Jets increased their lead to 13-0 before Manhattan Christian (4-5) scored its first bucket of the night, a Mike Williams lay-up, at the 14:05 mark of the first half. In the next 90 seconds, the blue-clad Crusaders cut the Newman lead to three when Kenny Park's three ball capped a 9-0 run by MCC. Newman countered with a 12-0 run of its own over the next two minutes as Jake Darby, Justin Berry, and Keaton Schultz each struck gold from long range. By the mid-way point of the first half, Newman led 25-11.

The Jets earned their first 20-point lead, 39-19, on a Berry lay-up with 4:03 to play, and the Jets cruised to the locker room at halftime with a 43-24 advantage.

Newman's free throw struggles made themselves evident throughout the course of the second half, when the Jets went to the line 16 times and converted just five attempts. Schultz was the only Jet that didn't miss from the charity stripe, hitting both of his shots. Manhattan Christian won the second half by three points, but the damage had already been done, as Newman held on for the 77-61 win; its fourth win of the season.

Jake Darby led the Jets offensively, finishing with 11 points, three assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Justin Berry added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Jaray Mathews was the game's high-rebounder with eight boards, while adding seven points, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. In all, six Jets finished with eight or more points in the game, and 15 Jets saw more than three minutes of playing time.

Mike Williams led Manhattan Christian with 23 points, while Kenny Park and Jordan Strom each added 14 points in the loss, which will count as an exhibition loss on the MCC schedule.

The Jets are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Emporia to take on the Emporia State Hornets. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Emporia's historic White Auditorium.