The Lowdown: Texas Wesleyan University @ No. 16 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video
Live Stats
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 16-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels continued their winning ways with a 93-79 drubbing of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers Thursday night (Jan. 30) in Chickasha, Okla. Jarius Wilson, the most recent Sooner Athletic Conference, NCCAA and OK Hoops Player of the Week, continued his stellar play with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 3-of-3 from three-point distance. Semar Farris and Stephen Armstrong each scored 14 points and Angelo Lewis posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Minner chipped in with 10 points.
The Evangels remain in control of the second spot in the Sooner Athletic Conference with an 8-3 conference record along with a 12-5 overall mark, two games behind front runner Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring 18.8 ppg), assists (89) and steals (57). Angelo Lewis is right behind at 17.9 ppg along a with team-best 6.3 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (14.8 ppg) and Reggie Davis (11.6 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is also second in the NAIA in steals per game (3.3 spg) and eighth in assists per game (5.2 apg). Wilson ranks second in three-point percentage (.521) 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), eighth in turnover margin (4.3) and 10th in steals per game (10.8 spg).
The Dish on the Rams: The Texas Wesleyan University Rams are 12-8 overall and 6-5 in the SAC after alternating wins and losses their past four games. The Rams are coming off a 78-65 win at home over Oklahoma Baptist University Thursday night after losing 72-67 at OBU on Monday night (Jan. 27).
Jorge Redmon leads the Rams with 18.9 points per game and 20 steals. Dallas Jones is second in scoring at 13.5 ppg and Rilwan Bakare is averaging 11.6 ppg and has a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. Jevron Hooks has dished out a team-high 116 assists on the season.
Hooks is sixth in the NAIA in assists per game (5.8 apg), while Deonte Jones is sixth in threes per game (3.2) and Redmon is third in free-throw percentage (.896).
As a team, the Rams are fourth in assists per game (18.3), sixth in three-point percentage (.393) and eight in both threes per game (8.9) and total rebound margin (8.5).
The Series: The Evangels defeated the Rams 96-86 back on Dec. 4 in the first meeting between the two schools since MACU became an NAIA school in 2007 and TWU joined the SAC this season.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 781 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.
Brennen Shingleton is in his second season at the helm of Texas Wesleyan University after a 10-year tenure as an assistant coach and later as an associate head coach at TWU. Shingleton guided the Rams to their sixth straight 20-win season last year in his first season.
Up Next: The Evangels continue their three-game homestand and host Oklahoma Baptist University on Tuesday night (Feb. 4) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
