OKLAHOMA CITY -- In his first career game replacing a coaching legend with 813 victories, Mid-America Christian University men's basketball head coach Josh Gamblin now has one win to his resume with a resounding 103-72 victory over the Haskell Indian Nations University Indians tonight (Oct. 27) inside a raucous Gaulke Activity Center. 

The Evangels, getting up and down the floor from the outset, jumped out to a double-digit lead when Jerrick Massenburge exploded for three treys in a 55 second span to jump ahead 23-11. 

MACU continued to pull away and took a commanding 52-34 lead at the break behind 12 points in the first half from Massenburge and Devonse Reed. 

The Evangels were never threatened in the second half and built the lead as high as 35 when Exzavia Seaton scored to make it 76-41 at the 13:05 mark. 

Reed paced the Evangels with a game-high 18 points in his first game with the program.  MACU got 15 points each from Massenburge and Nick Tate and then 11 points from both Bryon Miller and Jason Nwisienyi.  Nwisienyi also tied his career-high with five blocks, while Seaton secured a team-high 11 rebounds. Massenburge led the Evangels with four assists and four steals. 

Tsalidi Sequoyah led the Indians with 16 points and Duelle Gore had a double-double of 13 points and 11 boards.  

While the Evangels gave the live crowd much to cheer about, perhaps the loudest ovation came when Dustin Welch came off the bench late in the second half to make his collegiate debut.  Welch, a mainstay on the MACU JV program, promptly rewarded the fans with four points and one rebound. 

The Evangels will next play Saturday night (Oct. 31) at Bethany College.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Lindsborg, Kan.