The Lowdown: John Brown University @ No. 17 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
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The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 17-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels are trying to snap a three-game losing skid after losses at Northwood University last Thursday (Feb. 13) and a tough 95-94 setback to No. 4-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Saturday (Feb. 15).
The Evangels are now tied for second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 10-6 league mark and a 14-8 overall record. The Evangels are currently one full game ahead of St. Gregory's University and Wayland Baptist University. MACU will be at SGU Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) in the NAIA Game of the Week.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring (20.1 ppg), assists (109) and steals (69). Farris is pouring in 31.7 points per game in his last three games.
Angelo Lewis is second in scoring at 16.0 ppg and has a team-high 5.9 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (13.8 ppg) and Reggie Davis (12.0 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
The Dish on the Golden Eagles: After staggering to a 2-8 start in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the defending SAC regular season champion John Brown University Golden Eagles have ran off five wins in their last six games to improve to 17-9 overall and 7-9 in conference play. The Golden Eagles have won three straight overall and are coming off an 88-76 win at USAO last Saturday (Feb. 15).
Kofi Josephs leads JBU in scoring with 18.7 points per game and Gilbert Gyamfi is right behind at 18.3 ppg. Max Hopfgarnter is scoring 12.8 ppg, while Nate Anderson is at 10.5 ppg along
The Series: The Evangels have a mark of 5-8 against JBU since joining the NAIA after winning the first meeting this season 87-74 in Siloam Springs, Ark. back on Jan. 23. The Evangels are 3-3 at home vs. the Golden Eagles as an NAIA school.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 783 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.
Clark Sheehy is in his seventh season at the helm of John Brown University and has led JBU to the NAIA National Tournament the past two seasons. Last season, Sheehy guided the Golden Eagles to their first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference regular season championship.
Up Next: The Evangels will be at No. 23-ranked St. Gregory's University in the NAIA Game of the Week Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) at 5 p.m. in Shawnee, Okla.
