The Lowdown: Wayland Baptist University @ No. 14 Mid-America Christian University
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Live Stats
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 14-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels fought hard to come away with their fifth straight victory by outlasting Oklahoma Baptist University 71-68 Tuesday night (Feb. 4). The five-game win streak is the Evangels' longest since becoming an NAIA school in 2007.
The victory moved the Evangels to 14-5 overall and 10-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference to keep a firm grip on the second spot in the league. The Evangels are also a perfect 10-0 at home inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
Semar Farris is leading the Evangels in both scoring 18.3 ppg), assists (99) and steals (60). Angelo Lewis is second at 17.2 ppg along with team-best 6.1 rebounds a game. Jarius Wilson (14.6 ppg) and Reggie Davis (12.0 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures for MACU.
Farris is also second in the NAIA in steals per game (3.1 spg) and eighth in assists per game (5.2 apg). Wilson ranks first in three-point percentage (.512) in the NAIA and RichMarr Smith is seventh in assist/turnover ratio (3.0).
As a team, the Evangels are also all over the map in the NAIA Top 10 statistical rankings. MACU is fifth in three-point percentage (.396), eighth in turnover margin (4.3) and 10th in both assists per game (16.5) and steals per game (10.6 spg).
The Dish on the Pioneers: The Wayland Baptist University Pioneers suffered their first home loss of the season last Saturday (Feb. 1) to John Brown University, 67-66. The loss to JBU also snapped a three-game winning streak and leaves them 15-6 overall and 6-5 in the SAC. The Pioneers' have been a different team away home, going 2-5 overall on the road and 1-4 in the SAC. WBU is 12-1 overall at home and 5-1 in the SAC, including an 81-79 win over MACU earlier this season in Plainview, Texas.
Markus Monroe leads the Pioneers in scoring and rebounding with 21.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg. Barry Johnson is second at 15.3 ppg and Travis Payton has dished out a team-best 101 assists on the season.
The Pioneers have been one of the better rebounding teams in the NAIA, ranking fifth in defensive rebounds per game (30.6) and total rebounds (44.2). WBU is also seventh in blocks per game (4.2) and eighth in assists per game (16.7), scoring margin (+15.3) and total rebound margin (18.4).
The Series: The Evangels are 5-7 against Wayland Baptist since joining the NAIA in 2007 after dropping the season's first matchup in Plainview, Texas. The Evangels lost their first four meetings with the Pioneers, but have won five of the last eight. The Evangels are an even 3-3 vs. the Pioneers at home.
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.
Matt Garnett is in his third season at the helm of his alma mater Wayland Baptist University after a one-year stint as head coach at McMurry University. Garnett guided the Pioneers to the SAC Conference Tournament last year for the first time in four seasons. At McMurry, Garnett took MU to the NCAA D-III National Tournament and was named the American Southwest Conference West Division Coach of the Year. Garnett was the Pioneers point guard for three seasons as a player and earned second team All-Conference honors as a junior.
Up Next: The Evangels have a bye this Saturday before returning to the court next Thursday night (Feb. 13) at Northwood University at 8 p.m. in Cedar Hill, Texas.
