The Lowdown: No. 17 St. Gregory's University at No. 22 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video
Live Stats
The Dish on the Evangels: Jarius Wilson scored a game-high 26 points to lead the No. 22-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels to a big road victory, 87-74 at the John Brown University Golden Eagles on Thursday night (Jan. 23). The win moves the Evangels to 10-5 overall and into a three-way tie for second-place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with Oklahoma City University and today's opponent, St. Gregory's University with identical 6-3 conference records.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring 19.7 ppg), assists (78) and steals (48). Angelo Lewis is right behind at 18.2 ppg along a with team-best 6.3 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (13.4 ppg) and Reggie Davis (11.9 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is also third in the NAIA in steals per game (3.2 spg) and eighth in assists per game (5.2 apg).
As a team, the Evangels are also all over the map in the NAIA Top 10 statistical rankings. MACU is ninth in points per game (91.5 ppg), fifth in three-point percentage (.393), sixth in assists per game (16.9 apg), sixth in three-point defense (.289) and 10th in steals per game (10.9 spg).
The Dish on the Cavaliers: The No. 17-ranked St. Gregory's University Cavaliers have won two straight games to respond strongly to a brief two-game losing streak and come into today's game with a 15-3 overall record and 6-3 conference mark.
Marty Wilkerson is pacing the Cavaliers with 23.3 points along with a team-high 92 assists. Tilford Thornton is scoring 17.2 ppg and Josiah Campbell has a team-best 10.3 rebounds per game for SGU.
Wilkerson ranks fourth in the NAIA in points per game (23.3 ppg) and eighth in assists per game (5.1 apg), while Campbell is third in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (8.1) and seventh in overall rebounds per game (10.3 rpg).
As a team, SGU is sixth in the NAIA in field-goal percentage (.501), ninth in defensive rebounds per game (29.9) and 10th in scoring per game (90.2 ppg).
The Series: The Evangels have had their way with the Cavaliers since joining the NAIA in 2007. MACU has won 11 of the 12 meetings with SGU after sweeping the season series last year.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 779 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.
John Martin is in his sixth season at the helm of the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers. Before coming to SGU, Martin was the head coach of Moore HS for three years and at John Marshall HS in OKC for two seasons. Martin guided John Marshall to a state championship in 2003.
Up Next: The Evangels will play at USAO next Thursday night (Jan. 30) at 8 p.m. in Chickasha, Okla.
