Bethany, Okla. - In a wild game that saw nine ties and 18 lead changes, the Mid-America Christian Evangels found a way to pull out an 86-84 victory over the Hastings College (Neb.) Broncos in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon (Dec. 18). The game was played at Southwestern Christian College in Bethany, Okla. due to Graduation ceremonies held at the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Evangels built the lead as high as 14 in the second half, but the Broncos caught fire from long range and combined to hit seven threes over the next 11 minutes that led to a furious final five minutes that featured five ties and six lead changes.
The Evangels trailed 68-67 when John Shodipo hit consecutive buckets and Darius Gregory then scored inside to give them a 73-68 lead at the 5:58 mark of the second half.
A pair of threes by Derek Fletcher sandwiched around two free throws by Jason States put the Broncos up 76-73 with 4:36 remaining.
Gregory then scored the next six points for the Evangels, with the last two giving them a one-point lead at the 2:59 mark.
After two free throws by Donovan Schultz and a basket by Tobin Reinwald put the Broncos ahead by three, Shodipo converted a three-point play that knotted the score again at 82-82.
Schultz hit two more at the charity stripe to give the Broncos their last lead of the game because Nathan Pratt answered that with a basket and a foul, with the free throw putting the Evangels in front 85-84.
The Evangels (6-4, 2-2 SAC) then got a stop on defense that was punctuated by a huge block by Shodipo, with Gregory drawing a foul and splitting a pair at the line that made it 86-84 with just 16 seconds left.
MACU closed out the victory with another huge stop on the defensive end.
The Evangels got off to a hot start in the early going as Brandon Williams scored eight quick points with a pair of threes for a 10-5 lead.
The Broncos battled back as Schultz scored eight straight to cap a 17-8 spurt for a 24-18 lead at the 8:30 mark of the opening half.
Two more field goals by Schultz put the Broncos ahead 28-20 when MACU went on a 10-2 run that tied the score at 30.
The score was even at 35-35 but Nosa Amadasun finished the half with back-to-back buckets, including one at the buzzer that gave the Evangels a 44-37 lead heading into the break.
Shodipo led the Evangels with 19 points and blocked a game-high four shots. Williams scored 15 along with four steals. Gregory added 14 and Pratt chipped in with 11.
George Haynes pulled down a team-best eight boards and Donell Lewis led MACU with five assists.
Fletcher tallied a game-high 26 for the Broncos, with Schultz scoring 20 and Reinwald recording 19.
The Evangels led in rebounding 45-35 overall, with a whopping 19-6 edge on the offensive glass.
MACU will not play again until an exhibition with No. 24-ranked NCAA Div. II member Midwestern State on Thursday night (Dec. 30) at 7 p.m. in Wichita Falls, Texas. MSU is coming off an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
