The Lowdown: Southwestern Christian University @ No. 21 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 21-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels are coming off a tough 81-79 setback to the now No. 24-ranked Wayland Baptist University Pioneers last Saturday (Jan. 11). With the game knotted at 79-79, Travis Payton scored with four seconds remaining to give the Wayland Baptist University Pioneers an 81-79 win over the No. 18-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) in Plainview, Texas.
The Evangels had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a three by Semar Farris was off the mark as time expired.
Farris knocked down 7-of-10 from three-point range and scored a game-high 29 points along with four assists. Davis scored 15 and Jarius Wilson added 11. Lewis and Josh Smith also scored in double-figures with 10 points each. Lewis led the Evangels with seven rebounds.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring (21.2 ppg), assists (62) and steals (33). Angelo Lewis is right behind at 18.4 ppg along a with team-best 6.1 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (13.5 ppg) and Reggie Davis (10.8 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is ninth in the NAIA in both assists (5.2 apg) and steals (2.8 spg).
The Evangels are also all over the map in the NAIA Top 10 statistical rankings. MACU is ninth in points per game (93.1 ppg), sixth in assists per game (17.3 apg) and fourth in three-point percentage (.408).
The Dish on the Eagles: The Southwestern Christian University Eagles are saddled with a five-game losing streak and are currently 5-8 overall and 1-5 in the SAC.
Reggie Sloan is pacing the Eagles with 13.8 ppg and Adam Dirlbeck has a team-high 6.3 rpg. Marc Traylor leads the Eagles with 44 assists on the season.
The Eagles have been one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country so far this season, ranking second in the NAIA in three-pointers made per game (11.1) and total threes (144).
The Series: The Evangels have won all three meetings with Southwestern Christian University since joining the NAIA, including twice last season. MACU's three wins over SCU have been by an average of 21 points.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 777 career victories rank first in school history and second all-time in the NAIA.
Holley helped the Evangels become competitive in a short period of time in the Sooner Athletic Conference and broke through last season. Holley guided the Evangels to their highest-ever finish of third in the SAC with a 9-7 league record. MACU made their first appearance in the NAIA Top 25 in school history, coming in as high as tied for 23rd. The Evangels went on to capture their 20th NCCAA Central Regional Championship and finished fifth at the NCCAA National Tournament.
The 2012-13 season also featured guard Charlie Shorter, who was named SAC Player of the Year, NCCAA National Player of the Year and was a first-team NAIA All-America selection. It's the third straight season Holley has coached an NAIA All-American, as Shorter and Brandon Williams were Honorable-Mention selections in 2011-12 and 2010-11, respectively.
Holley's coaching style is to establish in his players a "no quit" attitude. This style led to an improbable NCCAA National Championship in 2007. The title was the fourth of Holley's illustrious career as he previously won the championship in 1998, 2003, and 2004. This year the plan is to take that same attitude and improve on last season's effort.
During his time at Mid-America, Holley has become a fixture in the athletic program, as he served as Athletic Director from 1973-2012. In 1997, Holley was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame, and he has been named the NCCAA Division II Coach of the Year four times - 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2004. Holley has also coached 17 All- Americans and won numerous conference and regional championships.
Holley earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Louisiana - Monroe in 1970. He and his wife, Janet, have three daughters: Angela, Jessica and Stacey.
Quinn Wooldridge is in his second season at the helm of Southwestern Christian University. Before arriving at SCU, Wooldridge served as the head coach at Edmond North High School and has assistant coaching stints at Oklahoma City University, Wayland Baptist University, Lyon College, Oklahoma Baptist University, Missouri Baptist University and at one junior college, Eastern Oklahoma State College. Wooldridge was also the head coach University of the Southwest (N.M.) and McAlester HS.
Up Next: The Evangels will be at nearby rival Oklahoma City University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) at 5 p.m. at Abe Lemons Arena on the OCU campus. The Evangels won last year's matchup at OCU 81-74.
