Lubbock, Texas -- Two days after dropping a tight conference battle at Wayland Baptist University, the Mid-America Christian University Evangels found a way today to pull out a 65-63 victory over the Lubbock Christian University Chaps in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12) at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas.

In an intense game featuring 11 ties and eight lead changes, the lead changed for good as Reggie Davis converted a three-point play for a 58-56 Evangel lead with 2:40 left.

After Angelo Lewis scored to make it a four-point game, Camilo Valencia came up big for the Evangels with a layup and two free throws to offset a pair of free throws and a layup from AJ Luckey that kept it a 64-60 lead with 32 seconds left.

The Chaps wouldn't go away easily though as Tyler Kennedy hit a three to cut the lead to one with 22 seconds left.

Valencia then split a pair at the charity stripe but a three by Jamaal Crayton went awry as time expired and the Evangels hung on for the win.

The Evangels (7-5 2-1 SAC) led by as many as seven in the opening half as Valencia and Charlie Shorter combined for nine points to fuel an 11-3 spurt for a 20-13 lead.

Anthony Brancato then scored five points of a 7-0 run that pulled the Chaps (10-7, 3-2 SAC) even at the 8:18 mark of the first half.

The Evangels went on to lead 30-29 at the break.

Shorter scored a game-high 22 points along with a team-best seven rebounds to lead the Evangels, while Davis and Valencia each scored 11. Lewis also reached double-digit scoring with 10 points.

Luckey paced the Chaps with 17 points and Eli Baker added 10.

The Evangels were out-rebounded 38-34 overall but limited the Chaps to only a 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting clip for the game.

MACU will next host their home conference opener against St. Gregory's University on Thursday night (Jan. 17) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.