Jan. 17, 2010
1.16.10 - Oklahoma City, Okla. - Entering the match-up the Evangels needed a win to move past Oklahoma Christian University and into third place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. It was a hard fought battle from start to finish with the Eagles defeating Mid-America Christian University, 79-71 at the Gaulke Activity Center on Saturday evening.
OC (16-2, 8-2 SAC) was led by senior Jason Taylor, scoring 31 points. Four other Eagles scored in double figures. Andre Vaughn added 13 points, David Jackson and Chad Endres each contributed 12 points and Jeff Crocker rounded out the group with 11 points.
Sophomore Charlie Shorter led the Evangels (10-7, 6-3 SAC) in scoring with 14 points, followed by Bradley Cosby and Cameron Langster with 11 points each. Brandon Williams and John Shodipo both supplied 10 points.
The first half saw the score knotted 10 times with the Evangels taking a one point lead (42-41) into the break. The last tie of the half came at the 8:08 mark (26-26). MACU went on a 16-8 run to take a 42-34 lead with 2:38 to play in the half. OC ended the half with a 7-0 rally including a three-pointer by Jeff Crocker with 14 seconds to play, bringing them within one point going into intermission.
The battle continued in the second half with OC leading for the most part but their largest lead in the opening 15 minutes was five points. With 5:23 to play Shodipo hit a field goal to bring the Evangels within one point of OC. With 2:42 to play, the Evangels trailed by three points (71-74) after Williams sunk a three-pointer but it would be MACU's last bucket in the game. The Eagles outlasted MACU in the last five minutes of play, out-scoring them 12-5.
The Evangels struggled from behind the arc only shooting 17 percent. They shot 46 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.
OC finished shooting 52 percent from the field, 45 percent from behind the arc and 78 percent from the free throw line. They also edged out the Evangels on the boards, out rebounding them 30-28.
The Evangels play host to Oklahoma Baptist University Thursday, January 21st at 8 p.m.
