The Lowdown: No. 16 Mid-America Christian University @ USAO
When: Tonight (Jan. 30) at 8 p.m.
Location: Chickasha, Okla.
Live Video and Stats
The Dish on the Evangels: Jarius Wilson garnered three separate Player of the Week honors (SAC, NCCAA, OK Hoops) after averaging 25.5 ppg in leading the No. 16-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels to a pair of victories this past week at John Brown University and over then No. 17-ranked St. Gregory's University. The wins moved the Evangels into sole possession of second-place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 7-3 conference record along with an 11-5 overall record. The No. 16 ranking in the NAIA is the highest in school history.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring 19.1 ppg), assists (86) and steals (52). Angelo Lewis is right behind at 18.2 ppg along a with team-best 6.1 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (14.1 ppg) and Reggie Davis (11.8 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is also second in the NAIA in steals per game (3.2 spg) and seventh in assists per game (5.4 apg). Wilson is the fifth-ranked three-point percentage (.500) in the NAIA.
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 (91.4 ppg), fifth in three-point percentage (.399), sixth in assists per game (17.0 apg), sixth in three-point defense (.288) and 10th in steals per game (10.8 spg).
The Dish on the Drovers: The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers are riding a three-game winning streak to move to .500 overall on the season at 8-8 and above the .500 mark in the SAC with a 5-4 conference mark. The Drovers are coming off an exciting 71-70 win at home over Oklahoma City University last Saturday (Jan. 25).
Jahseth Lloyd leads the Drovers in both points (21.5 ppg) and rebounds (7.9 rpg) since re-entering the lineup the past eight games. Tyler Reynolds is second in scoring at 13.9 ppg and has a team-high 43 assists on the season.
Shavon Scott is the NAIA's top free-throw shooter by percentage at 90.9 percent.
The Series: The series between the Evangels and Drovers is close, as MACU holds a slim 7-6 edge since joining the NAIA after winning 93-73 at home earlier this season. The two schools have split the season series the past three seasons, with each squad winning at home. The Evangels are 1-5 all-time at USAO, with the lone victory coming during the 2009-10 season.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 780 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.
Vinson Metcalf is in his first season as head coach at USAO after a nearly 15-year run as an assistant coach for the Drovers. Metcalf replaces Brisco McPherson, who served as head coach for the past 22 seasons.
Up Next: The Evangels will host Texas Wesleyan University on Saturday evening (Feb. 1) at 5 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center. MACU won the first matchup 96-86 in Fort Worth, Texas back on Dec. 4.
