The Lowdown: Oklahoma Baptist University @ No. 16 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 8 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 built a 22-point first half lead and hung on from there to win their fourth straight game, 92-80 over the Texas Wesleyan University Rams Saturday afternoon (Feb. 1) inside the Gaulke Activity Center. The Evangels got a game-high 22 points and a team-high seven rebounds from Reggie Davis. Semar Farris scored 17 along with a team-best six assists. Jarius Wilson added 15 points and Stephen Armstrong scored 12.
The victory moved the Evangels to 13-5 overall and 9-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference to keep a firm grip on the second spot in the league.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring 18.7 ppg), assists (95) and steals (58). Angelo Lewis is second at 16.9 ppg along with team-best six rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (14.8 ppg) and Reggie Davis (12.2 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is also second in the NAIA in steals per game (3.2 spg) and eighth in assists per game (5.2 apg). Wilson ranks first in three-point percentage (.519) in the NAIA.
As a team, the Evangels are also all over the map in the NAIA Top 10 statistical rankings. MACU is seventh in points per game (91.5 ppg), fifth in three-point percentage (.394), eighth in turnover margin (4.3), ninth in three-point defense (.296) and assists per game (16.5, while ranking 10th in steals per game (10.9 spg).
The Dish on the Bison: After a 2-5 start in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison have found their groove a bit, winning three of their last four games to improve to 5-6 in the SAC and 11-10 overall. The Bison are coming off a 70-68 win at home USAO on Saturday (Feb. 1).
Morris Woods leads OBU with 18.4 points per game, while Aaron Abram is next with 16.7 ppg along with a team-high 7.6 rebounds a game. Kendall Parks has dished out a team-leading 140 assists on the season.
Cale Jackson is currently second in the NAIA in free-throw percentage (.900, while Parks is third in the NAIA in assists per game (6.6 apg).
The Series: The Evangels have lost 11 of 13 meetings with Oklahoma Baptist University since joining the NAIA, but one of those was a 69-64 victory at OBU in the first meeting this season. The Evangels' first win over the Bison came during the 2010-11 season, an 82-76 victory at the then No. 9-ranked Bison in Shawnee, Okla. The Evangels are seeking their first home win over OBU as an NAIA school.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 41st season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and his 782 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.
Doug Tolin is in his 14th season as head coach of OBU and has led the Bison to 13 consecutive NAIA Tournaments, including a national championship in 2010 and a national runner-up finish in 2012. He is a three-time SAC Coach of the Year and was named the NAIA Coach of the Year in 2010.
Up Next: The Evangels wrap up their three-game homestand and host Wayland Baptist University on Thursday night (Feb. 6) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
