Point Lookout, Mo. -- The Mid-America Christian University Evangels came out on the short end of a wild overtime game at the College of the Ozarks Bobcats, 111-109 Thursday night (Dec. 12) in Point Lookout, Mo. 

The Evangels (6-2) appeared to have things in control at the end of regulation when a three-point play by Semar Farris and a steal and layup from Angelo Lewis capped a 7-0 spurt for a 98-95 lead with 13 seconds left. 

But after Pete Leonard put in an offensive rebound with three seconds remaining, the Evangels committed a huge turnover that gave the Bobcats a chance to win it.  

The Evangels then fouled with two seconds left, but Leonard only split a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime.  

Once in the extra session, the Bobcats (9-3) battled to a 103-100 lead before a three by Semar Farris tied the game at the 1:30 mark. 

Five more free throws by the Bobcats made it a five-point game, but another three by Farris and a trey from Rodney Young sandwiched around a missed free throw by Alex Santiago suddenly put the Evangels in front again 109-108 with 28 seconds left. 

After Derek Daniels scored and got fouled inside but missed the ensuing free throw, Stephen Armstrong secured the rebound but another turnover with three seconds left secured the win for the Bobcats. 

The final numbers reflected just as close of a game as the final score indicated with 12 ties and 23 lead changes. 

MACU out-shot the Bobcats 46.2 percent (36-of-78) to 44.8 percent (30-of-67) and also held a 45-36 edge on the boards.  

But one huge key came at the charity stripe, where the Bobcats shot a whopping 66 free throws, making 47 of them.  The Evangels were 30-of-36 at the foul line. 

Farris led the Evangels with a game-high 27 points, while Luke Mergerson poured in a career-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds.  Angelo Lewis scored 22 points and Josh Minner chipped in with a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 11 boards. 

Daniels led six Bobcats in double-figures with 18 points and Santiago scored 17.  

The Evangels will now take some time off during the Christmas Break before resuming Sooner Athletic Conference action at home against Northwood University on Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.