Jan. 5, 2009
1.5.09 - Oklahoma City, OK- The Mid-America Christian University (MACU) men's basketball team fell to Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) opponent Wayland Baptist University (WBU) 80-78 in overtime on Monday night at the Gaulke Activity Center.
The loss drops the Evangels to 1-11 overall with a record of 0-5 in conference play. With the win the Pioneers improve to 10-3 overall and 2-3 in conference.
MACU scored the first points of the game and from then on the teams traded buckets for the remainder of the evening. With seven minutes to play in the first half WBU had the largest lead of the half with a six point cushion (16-22). A Thiago Lucas field goal, a Pioneer turnover and a bucket from behind the arc by Derek Winston left the Evangels down by one (22-21) with five minutes in the half.
With 1:27 left in the first half the Evangels regained control of the lead after Donell Lewis sunk a 3-pointer (29-28). WBU turned over the ball and Darius Gregory put away a lay-up to making the score 31-28. With one minute left in the half WBU was down by one (32-31). Both team made a field goal making it 35-33 MACU with five seconds left in the first half. Tyron Goldsmith missed a 3-pointer but Darius Gregory was able to knock the ball out to Cameron Langster who drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving MACU a five point lead going into the locker room.
It didn't take long for the Pioneers to even up the score in the second half. However, the Evangels led by eight with 7:54 to go in the second half (59-51). The Pioneers went on an 11-4 run, leaving MACU to lead by only one (63-62) with six minutes to play. With 1:33 left to play, up by one, Senior Tyron Goldsmith hit a field goal to give the Evangels a three point advantage (72-69). Jason Griffith of WBU hit a game saving 3-pointer with 25 seconds to go, sending the game into overtime.
MACU got the first four points in overtime. WBU made some free throws to put them down by two (76-74) with three minutes to play. Darius Gregory made a field goal to put the Evangels back up by four (78-74). The Pioneers, Calvin Hall made a field goal to but WBU one position behind (78-76). MACU then turned over the ball and Hall tied the game with a lay-up. A missed field goal by the Evangels gave the Pioneer one last shot with 25 seconds left in the game. Hall came up big scoring the game winning field goal for the pioneers.
There were seven ties in the game. WBU had 19 turnovers to the Evangels 16. The Evangels were four for four from the free throw line and 38 percent from behind the arc.
Charlie Shorter led the team in scoring with 15 points. Tyron Goldsmith had 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Evangels go on the road to take on Conference opponent Northwestern Oklahoma State University Thursday, December 8th.
