March 14, 2010
3.13.10 - Waxahachie, Texas-Led by senior John Shodipo with 17 points and 12 rebounds, the second seeded Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team defeated the tournament host, eighth seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God University 77-69 on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Evangels take home the NCCAA Central Region title and an automatic berth to the NCCAA Division I National Championship tournament.
SAGU ends their season 13-21 overall. They upset top seeded Dallas Baptist University in the opening round and the fifth seed Central Baptist College in the semifinal to get to the championship game.
The Evangels (19-15) defeated the seventh seed, Central Christian College, and the third seed Colorado Christian University to compete for the title.
The Evangels edged out the Lions on the boards 43-41. Shodipo led the Evangels on the boards with a season high 12 rebounds. His 17 points ties his season high and it was his first double-double of the season.
Three Evangels joined Shodipo in double-digit scoring; Charlie Shorter added 12 points while Brandon Williams and Josh Ball each contributed 10 points.
MACU finished shooting 70 percent from the free throw line, 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc.
Neither team held a double-digit lead in the game. The Evangels largest lead of the first half came at the 15:44 mark when senior Corey Raney drained a pair of free throws to put MACU ahead 10-4.
SAGU rallied with a 9-0 run, taking a four-point lead (16-12) with 11:30 to go before intermission.
MACU regained the lead with back-to-back buckets by Darius Gregory both assisted by Shorter, giving the Evangels a 22-21 lead to cap off a 10-5 run with under seven minutes to play in the half.
SAGU reclaimed the lead, taking 77-69 advantage into the locker room at the break.
MACU opened the second half strong with a 7-1 run, taking a 42-39 lead. The teams traded buckets but a lay up by Shodipo gave the Evangels a 60-58 advantage with 6:58 to play. The Lions wouldn't regain the lead.
MACU will travel to Oakland City University in Oakland City Indiana for the NCCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Tournament Thursday through Saturday, March 18-20.
