OKLAHOMA CITY -- With the score knotted at 100-100 with 29 seconds remaining, Jarius Wilson stepped up and sank the biggest shot of his career, a three that gave the Mid-America Christian University Evangels a 103-100 lead they wouldn't relinquish in a dramatic Sooner Athletic Conference matchup Thursday night (Jan. 2) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
With the victory, the Evangels are now 7-3 overall and 3-0 in the SAC for the first time since joining the NAIA in 2007.
The shot came after the Northwood University Knights had tied the score on consecutive baskets by Everett Pleasant with 41 seconds left.
It didn't appear as if the Evangels would need a clutch shot by Wilson when threes by RichMarr Smith and Reggie Davis gave the Evangels their largest lead of the game at 78-63 at the 11:05 mark of the second half.
But the Knights charged all the way back as a three by Dadrian Taylor capped a 13-4 spurt that cut the deficit to 82-76 with 7:48 left.
Following a pair of free throws by Semar Farris that grew the lead to 88-81, the Knights ripped off a 9-2 run as two freebies by Pleasant gave the Knights their first lead since the 4:24 mark of the first half.
After Angelo Lewis momentarily stemmed the tide with a bucket that put the Evangels (7-2, 3-0 SAC) back in front, BJ Dale scored five straight points to give the Knights a two possession lead of 95-91 with 3:48 remaining.
The Evangels answered though as Farris scored five straight points and hit a three to put the Evangels on top again 97-95 at the 3:10 mark.
The Knights (2-5, 0-1 SAC) got off to a quick start and led by as many as 15 in the opening half when a three-point play by Jerrick Massenburge made it 29-14.
MACU slowly fought back as Josh Minner scored seven points, including a ferocious dunk to fuel a 12-1 burst for a 38-37 lead with 4:48 left in the half.
The Evangels continued to close the half strong and led 53-45 at the break.
Farris scored a team-high 25 points along with five steals and five assists. Lewis added 18, with Wilson and Minner each chipping in with 14. Stephen Armstrong also reached double-figure scoring with 12 points.
Massenburge led all scorers with 26 points and Pleasant scored 19 and led the Knights with eight boards. Dale added 11 and Eugene Gipson scored 10.
The Evangels dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Knights 47-35 overall and 18-11 in offensive rebounds.
MACU will next face a stern test at No. 3-ranked (T-3rd) and last year's NAIA Runner-Up Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 4) at 5 p.m. in Waxahachie, Texas.
