OKLAHOMA CITY -- The College of the Ozarks Bobcats exploded for 60 points in the second half to overcome a 16-point first half deficit and defeat the Mid-America Christian University Evangels 96-92 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon (Nov. 10) at the Gaulke Activity Center. 

The Evangels (2-1) got off to a quick start as a three by Charlie Shorter capped a 14-4 spurt for a 35-19 advantage at the 7:12 mark of the first half. 

It was 41-27 when Ethan Murray scored eight points to help the Bobcats (4-1) score the final nine points of the half to pull within 41-36 at the break. 

After Angelo Lewis scored off a putback to make it 48-41 early in the second period, treys by Murray and Dami Sapara started a 12-2 run that gave the Bobcats their first lead since the early part of the opening half. 

The Bobcats (4-1) went on to stretch the lead as high as nine before the Evangels marched back with a 9-2 run to come within 75-74 with 5:07 remaining. 

A three by Mike Wiebe and consecutive buckets from Murray again helped build the lead back to six at 82-76 at the 4:29 mark of the second half. 

The Evangels again fought back to within two on a pair of occasions, with the last being off a layup by Camilo Valencia that made it 86-84 with 2:30 left.

But the Bobcats continued to take advantage of second chance opportunities as a basket and two free throws from Wiebe and a score from Murray essentially put the game away as the Evangels could get no closer than four over the final 1:10. 

Shorter scored a team-high 30 points to lead the Evangels, while Valencia recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists.  Angelo Lewis had a good all-around game of 18 points, along with seven rebounds, four assists and six steals. Josh Minner also reached double-digit scoring with 11. 

Wiebe led all scorers with 31 points for the Bobcats and Nathane Simniok scored 21 and had a game-high nine boards.  Murray finished with 19 points. 

The Evangels were hurt on the boards, as the Bobcats held a 39-25 overall rebounding advantage with a 14-10 edge on the offensive glass.

The Bobcats also shot a blistering 63 percent (17-of-27) in the second half to wind up at 57.9 percent (33-of-57) for the game.  MACU shot a respectable 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the field.   The Evangels' defense also forced the Bobcats into 22 turnovers, while committing only nine giveaways. 

The Evangels will next compete in the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Classic next Friday (Nov. 16) and Saturday (Nov. 17) in Bartlesville, Okla., starting with a matchup with Evangel University (Mo.) on Friday at 4 p.m.  MACU will then face OKWU on Saturday night (Nov. 17) at 8 p.m.