The Lowdown: No. 21 Mid-America Christian University @ Oklahoma City University
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Abe Lemons Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video, Audio and Stats
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 21-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels cruised to an 80-58 victory over the Southwestern Christian University Eagles last night (Jan. 16) inside the Gaulke Activity Center. The Evangels scored the first 13 points of the game and never looked back in improving to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The 5-2 mark is good for second place in the SAC.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring (20.5 ppg), assists (69) and steals (38). Angelo Lewis is right behind at 18.5 ppg along a with team-best 6.2 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (13.5 ppg) and Reggie Davis (10.3 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is seventh in the NAIA in steals per game (2.9 spg) and ninth in assists per game (5.3 apg).
The Evangels are also all over the map in the NAIA Top 10 statistical rankings. MACU is ninth in points per game (92.1 ppg), fifth in assists per game (17.6 apg) and sixth in three-point percentage (.397).
The Dish on the Stars: The Oklahoma City University Stars snapped a brief two-game losing skid with a 66-65 win over the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison last night. The win moves the Stars over .500 in the SAC at 4-3 with an 8-6 overall record.
Terry Johnson leads the Stars with 17.3 ppg and R.J. McGhee is scoring 13.8 ppg. Jamaal Crayton is averaging 10.9 ppg and leads OCU in both rebounds (5.6 rpg) and assists (40).
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 are 4-8 against Oklahoma City University since joining the NAIA in 2007. The two schools split the season series last year, with each squad winning on the road.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 778 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.
Dionne Phelps is in his third season as head coach at Oklahoma City University after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. During his time at OU, Phelps helped the Sooners to a 96-69 record, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2009 that featured eventual No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Blake Griffin.
Up Next: The Evangels will be at John Brown University next Thursday night (Jan. 23) for an 8 p.m. tip-off in Siloam Springs, Ark.
