Greenville, S.C. -- In search of their fifth national championship in their 22nd tournament appearance, the Mid-America Christian University Evangels  have been selected as the fourth seed in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament and will face the fifth-seeded Shorter University Hawks Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 13) at noon in Winona Lake, Ind. on the campus of Grace College.

The Evangels won their way into the national tourney by winning the NCCAA Central Regional title game over the top-seeded McMurry University War Hawks, 68-66 on Saturday (Mar. 9).  The Evangels are 17-12 overall and were tied for third in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 9-7 conference record.

MACU is led by SAC Player of the Year and NCCAA Central Regional Co-MVP Charlie Shorter's 23.1 ppg.  Shorter averaged 31.7 ppg in the Evangels' three Central Regional victories.  Angelo Lewis is second on the team in scoring with 14.5 ppg and leads the SAC with 8.2 rebounds per game.  Camilo Valencia has dished out a team-high 3.8 assists a game.

The Evangels is under the direction of head coach Willie Holley, who in his 40th season ranks second all-time in the NAIA in career victories (767).

The Shorter University Hawks are the NCCAA South Regional champions after knocking off Southern Wesleyan 87-75 on Saturday.  The Hawks, located in Rome, Ga., will enter the tourney with an 18-11 overall record and compete in the NCAA D-II Gulf South Conference.

Shorter finished 9-9 in the GSC but is not yet eligible for the NCAA Postseason after making the transition from the NAIA.  Walter Hill leads the Hawks in scoring with 15.4 ppg.

With a victory, the Evangels will face the winner of top-seeded Fresno Pacific and eighth-seeded Roberts Wesleyan Thursday afternoon (Mar. 14) at 3:30 p.m.