Waxahachie, Texas -- The Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions used a late run in the first half to take the lead and then pulled away in the second half to end the No. 17-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels' seven-game winning streak 78-61 in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup today (Jan. 31) in Waxahachie, Texas. 

Despite the loss, the Evangels remain in first place in the SAC by two full games with a 8-2 conference record.  

The Evangels had built a six point lead with 5:44 left in the first half only to have the Lions finish the period on a 13-2 burst that was capped by a three by Jason Gentry with five seconds left that gave SAGU a 36-31 lead at the break. 

After the Evangels came out of the locker room and clawed within two on a three by Semar Farris and two free throws from Josh Smith, five points from Gentry sparked nine straight points for SAGU that extended the lead to 47-36 at the 16:31 mark. 

The Evangels then crept within six on a basket from Farris and a three by Jarius Wilson, but it was again Gentry that caught fire with two threes to fuel an 11-2 run as SAGU pulled out to a 15-point lead with 10:30 left. 

MACU got no closer than 12 the rest of the way while the Lions built the lead as high as 19 with 3:02 left. 

The second half could not have went much worse for the Evangels, as they cooled all the way down to 24 percent (6-of-25) shooting after a 46.4 percent (13-of-28) clip in the first half. 

Meanwhile, SAGU heated up to 48.5 percent (16-of-33) in the second half following a 38.9 percent (14-of-36) peformance in the opening stanza. 

Farris led the Evangels (15-7, 8-2 SAC) with a game-high 22 points and was the lone MACU player to reach double-figure scoring. Chris Runnels scored eight along with a team-high seven rebounds. 

Jonathan Walter scored 18 to lead the Lions (16-6, 6-4 SAC), followed by Gentry's 14 points.  Marcus Price scored 13 and Rishaad Alexander added 10 points. Walter and Price each secured a team-high eight boards.  

The Evangels will next return home to host Oklahoma City University next Thursday night (Feb. 5) at 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.