OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the second straight game, the Mid-America Christian University Evangels dug too deep a hole to get out of and lost their third straight overall, 96-87 to the University of the Southwest (N.M.) Mustangs tonight (Dec. 18) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Mustangs, under former MACU Assistant Head Coach Charles Goar, took an 8-7 lead at the 16:46 mark of the opening half and never trailed again, storming to a 13-point lead of 27-14 at the 9:51 mark of the first half.
Semar Farris got the Evangels back into it with five straight points to spark a 9-0 spurt that was capped on an alley-oop to Chris Runnels that cut the deficit to 27-23.
It was a five-point lead for the Mustangs when threes by Anthony Brown, Andres Gomez and Joaquine Chappell fueled a 13-4 run that extended the edge back to 14 and USW took a 51-35 lead into the break.
The Mustangs (7-5) kept the Evangels at bay much of the second half, three times stretching the lead to 17 before taking their largest lead of the game of 76-58 on a three by Gomez with 9:31 left.
MACU tried to chip away and came as close as seven as a three by Reggie Davis and two free throws from Farris made it 87-80 at the 1:55 mark.
But two free throws by Reginald Sonnier and a bucket from Pat Allen pushed the lead back to 11 and the Evangels came no closer than nine over the last 1:29 of the contest.
Farris scored a team-high 21 points to lead the Evangels and narrowly missed a triple-double with eight rebounds and eight assists. Davis scored 17 with six assists and Jarius Wilson added 11 points. Josh Smith also scored in double-figures with 10 points along with eight boards.
Sonnier paced the Mustangs with game-highs of 23 points and 16 rebounds. Allen scored 18 and Gomez had 16 points and team-high five assists. Darius Revels chipped in with 11 points.
The Evangels will now take time for the Christmas holiday and will next compete on Jan. 2, 2015 at NCAA D-II member West Texas A&M University. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Canyon, Texas.
