Chickasha, Okla. -- The Mid-America Christian University Evangels rallied from a 14-point second half deficit to tie the score three times, but couldn't get over the hump and fell 95-89 to the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Drovers in Sooner Athletic Conference action Saturday evening (Dec. 3) in Chickasha, Okla. 

After a three by Trell Porter put USAO up 69-55 at the 11:54 mark, two free throws by Darius Gregory started a 9-0 run that brought the Evangels to within five points. 

Kyle Hunt, who scored a game-high 36 points, split a pair at the charity stripe, Josh Smith hit consecutive layups to make it a 2-point game at 70-68. 

It was 72-68 when a jumper by Charlie Shorter and a layup from Gregory tied the score at 72-72 with 6:11 left. 

Porter then hit another three to snap a 74-74 gridlock, only to have Brandon Williams tied the score again with a trey of his own at the 5:12 mark. 

A pair of free throws and a layup by Hunt gave the Drovers a four-point lead, but Cameron Langster kept the Evangels close with a three that made it 83-82 with 3:12 left. 

The Drovers (5-3, 1-1 SAC) led 86-84 when Norris Rumph hit a layup and Brandon Cutler tipped in a missed shot for a six-point lead with just 36 seconds left. 

Williams brought the Evangels within 90-87 by nailing a three on the Evangels' next possession, but the Drovers sealed the win by hitting five out of six free throws over the final 24 seconds. 

Shorter led five Evangels in double-figures with 22 points and also had a team-high 10 rebounds.  Camilo Valencia scored 16 on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, while Gregory scored 15.  Williams added 13 and dished out a team-best five assists, with Langster chipping in with 11. 

In addition to his 36 points, Hunter powered the Drovers with 16 rebounds and six blocks.  Rumph scored 20 and Harris added 13. 

Not much went wrong offensively for the Drovers in the first half, as they shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the floor in the opening stanza.  The Evangels hung close though, shooting 50 percent (17-of-34) in the opening half and only trailed 46-41 at the break. 

The Evangels will next play a rematch at Oklahoma City on Thursday night (Dec. 8) at 8 p.m.