OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 14-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels ran their winning streak to five games with a tough 71-68 victory over the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Tuesday night (Feb. 4) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
The five-game winning streak is the longest for the Evangels since becoming an NAIA school in 2007.
The Evangels (14-5, 10-3 SAC) had to work for every last second of this one after two free throws and a layup by Cole Jackson brought OBU to within one two seconds left.
Semar Farris then stepped to the line and made two free throws and a last second heave by the Bison fell well short to preserve the win.
A big sequence in the game occurred when Farris nailed a big three and Josh Minner put in an emphatic putback dunk to answer a 7-0 spurt by the Bison that had cut the lead to two with 4:04 left.
The Evangels started the game slow, falling behind 9-2 before threes from Angelo Lewis and Minner sparked a 13-0 outburst for a six-point lead at the 12:12 mark of the first half.
OBU though came right back behind a pair of threes from Jackson that led a 10-0 run that put the Bison back in front by four.
It remained close the rest of the half and was tied at 32-32 when the Evangels scored the final six of the period to take a six-point lead at the break.
The Evangels gained some separation early in the second by outscoring the Bison 9-3 during the first 2:30 to double their halftime lead to 47-35 with 17:37 remaining.
Aaron Abram then edged the Bison (11-11, 5-7 SAC) closer with seven straight points that began a 16-5 push that cut the lead to 52-51 at the 11:20 mark.
MACU again pulled away briefly as a three by Jarius Wilson capped a 12-4 run that built the lead back to nine with 6:20 left.
Lewis led all scorers with 22 points and also had a team-high seven rebounds for the Evangels. Minner scored 11, with Farris and Wilson each adding 10 points.
Jackson paced the Bison with 20 points and Hayden Darst chipped in with 16. Abram added 12 with a game-high nine boards and Kendall Parks dished out nine assists.
The Evangels will look to continue their winning ways at home against Wayland Baptist University on Thursday night (Feb. 6) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
