The Lowdown: Mid-America Christian University @ Southwestern Christian University
Time: Saturday (Jan. 17) @ 5 p.m.
Location: Pickens-Springer Gymnasium, Bethany, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
On the brink of history: MACU head coach Willie Holley is closing on his historic 800th win, as he is now only one win away from the milestone. Only 16 head coaches have achieved the 800 win plateau and only one active NAIA head coach (Dr. Dave Holmquist, Biola University).
The Dish on the Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Evangels took control early and cruised to an 83-64 victory over the No. 11-ranked Wayland Baptist University Pioneers last night (Jan. 15). MACU held WBU 27 points below its season average, as the Pioneers entered last night's contest as the top scoring team in the Sooner Athletic Conference at over 91 points per game. The victory moves the Evangels to 11-6 overall and into sole possession of first place in the SAC with a 4-1 conference mark.
Semar Farris leads the Evangels in scoring (17.2 ppg), assists (92), steals (39) and threes (33). Reggie Davis is second in scoring with 15.6 ppg and has a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game. Jerrick Massenburge (11.3 ppg) and Jarius Wilson (10.2 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures while Chris Runnels has swatted a team-best 27 shots on the season.
The Dish on the Eagles: The Southwestern Christian University Eagles won their first SAC game of the season last night (Jan. 15) in dramatic fashion, 79-78 over Oklahoma City University. After OCU came back from a 19-point halftime deficit to take their first lead of the second half, Vladimir Nemocok hit a jumper with five seconds left to give SCU the win. The Eagles are now 5-8 overall and 1-4 in the SAC.
Austin Turner leads the Eagles with 14.2 ppg, while Vladimir Nemocok is second in scoring at 12.4 ppg along with a team-high 61 assists. Tyler Turner leads the Eagles with 5.1 rebounds per game.
The Series: The Evangels have won all five meetings with Southwestern Christian University since joining the NAIA, including sweeping last season's two games in the Eagles' first year in the SAC.
The Coaches:
Willie Holley is in his 42nd season as head coach at Mid-America Christian University and is closing in on his milestone 800th victory as his 799 career wins rank first in school history and second all-time in the NAIA.
Entering the 2014-15 season, Holley has announced that this year will be his last of a legendary tenure.
He coached the Evangels to a tie for second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 12-8 league record, their highest-finish as an NAIA school.
He also led MACU to its first-ever SAC Tournament victory last season and had the program within one spot of qualifying for their initial NAIA National Tournament berth.
After coming up just short for the NAIA Tournament, the Evangels qualified for their 23rd National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament appearance.
The 2013-14 campaign also featured Holley coaching an NAIA All-America performer for the fourth straight season, as guard Semar Farris earned second-team NAIA All-America honors.
Holley has helped the Evangels become competitive in a short period of time in the Sooner Athletic Conference and broke through in 2012-13. Holley guided the Evangels to a 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 18 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.
Quinn Wooldridge is in his third season at the helm of Southwestern Christian University. Before arriving at SCU, Wooldridge served as the head coach at Edmond North High School and has assistant coaching stints at Oklahoma City University, Wayland Baptist University, Lyon College, Oklahoma Baptist University, Missouri Baptist University and at one junior college, Eastern Oklahoma State College. Wooldridge was also the head coach University of the Southwest (N.M.) and McAlester HS.
Up Next: The Evangels will return home and host No. 17-ranked Texas Wesleyan University next Thursday night (Jan. 22) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
