Nov. 13, 2008
11.13.08 - Oklahoma City, Okla- Cody Brazelton and Jonathan Woods each scored 15 points to lead Sterling College to a 68-64 victory over the Evangels on Thursday evening.
The loss brings MACU to 0-5 on the season. With the win the Warriors move to 3-1 on the year.
MACU won the tip-off and scored the first two points of the game. They controlled the lead for the first three minutes but trailed for the remainder of the evening.
The Warriors scored nine straight points in the first ten minutes of the half and had a 14 point run at the end of the half. The Warriors shot 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the line in the first half. The also shot an impressive 85 percent from the free throw line.
The Evangels Shot 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from the free throw line. They struggled behind the arc going 0 for four in the first half.
The Warriors largest lead in the first 20 minutes was 19 point. They took a comfortable 16 point lead into the locker room at half time.
Sterling College controlled the second half for the first five minutes. But the Evangels battled back. With 15 minutes to play something clicked for MACU. They started cutting the Warriors lead little by little and gained the momentum.
With 4:23 left in the game the Evangels had fought back within four with two free throws made by Tyron Goldsmith. On the next play Donell Lewis picked up the defensive rebound off a Warrior three point attempt putting the ball in Brandon Williams' hands. He was fouled and sunk both of his shots, taking Sterling's lead down to one point with three minutes to play. The Warriors got a quick three to put them up by four.
A Brandon Williams three brings the Evangels within one with 2:20 to play. With under 1:30 in the contest Woods hit a clutch field goal and made two free throws in back to back plays that would put the Warriors up by five. Woods was fouled again with 22 seconds to play, sinking one of his two shots putting SC up by five.
Senior Tyron Goldsmith put away a free throw with 11 seconds left but the Evangels ran out of time and the Warriors prevail 68-64.
The Evangels were led by Brandon Williams who had 14 points on the night with three rebounds, three assists and four steals. Senior Tyron Goldsmith had 13 points with 6 rebounds, one assist and one block.
"Basketball at MACU is, has been and hopefully will remain at least a few more years, an arena to build character in the lives of the student athletes who play the game," Head Men's Basketball Coach Willie Holley said. "It is not life or death. Certainly it hurts when you work hard, give your best and lose on the scoreboard. I have experience winning four National Champions, losing at the National Tournament (more times than I like to remember), and I have coached in 698 wins (and well I'm not counting the loses)." "However, I can truthfully say that whether we won or lost the game God has always taught me something about myself. Sometimes it is harder to win with humility than to lose with dignity." "God is exposing this team's human weaknesses through this losing streak. He wants to strip away our self pride and self reliance, this is plain to see. If losing teaches us as individuals and a group of student athletes about our human frailty and we are able to grow into better men, students and Christians, what more success can a Coach have?"
The Evangels will travel to Joplin, Missouri on November 21st to play an exhibition against Missouri Southern.
