Plainview, Texas -- The No. 12-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels fell 77-69 at the No. 14-ranked Wayland Baptist University Pioneers in the regular season finale today (Feb. 28) in Plainview, Texas. 

Despite losing for only third time in their last 16 games, the Evangels have already clinched their first regular season Sooner Athletic Conference championship and will be the top seed in next week's SAC Tournament. 

The Evangels mustered only a 32.5 percent (25-of-77) shooting percentage for the game, with a 29.5 percent (13-of-44) clip in the first half.  

MACU led 36-34 at the break in spite of the cold shooting thanks to a 29-15 edge in rebounding, including a 17-2 advantage on the offensive glass. 

Although the Evangels shot a little better percentage of 36.4 percent (12-of-33) in the second half, the Pioneers turned around the rebounding and out-boarded MACU 24-14 in the second half.  

After a jumper by Yuri Hager kept the Evangels on top 51-47, the Pioneers ran off nine straight points to take the lead for good at 56-51 at the 10:42 mark of the second half. 

The Pioneers built the lead to eight before the Evangels made a push when a three by Jerrick Massenburge capped a 10-4 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 66-64 with 6:21 left. 

But a three-point play by Morris Mitchell started a 6-0 run that stretched the lead back to eight at 72-64 with 3:34 remaining. 

A layup by Jarius Wilson briefly made it a two-possession game with 2:44 left, but that's the last points the Evangels would score until a three by Brock Hunter created the final margin with 19 seconds left. 

The Evangels got off to a good start and twice led by seven in the opening half.  

It was tied at 34-34 when a technical foul resulted in two free throws from Semar Farris that gave the Evangels a two-point lead at the half. 

Massenburge led the Evangels (21-9, 14-4 SAC) with 17 points, including connecting on a personal season-high of five three-pointers.  Farris scored 16 and Hunter had 12 points and team-highs of six rebounds and six assists. 

Kendall Durant scored a team-high 14 points along with five assists to lead the Pioneers (24-5, 13-5 SAC), while Royal Crouch and Bunja Yaboe each had 12 points and eight boards.  

The Evangels will now gear up for the upcoming SAC Tournament, starting next Thursday (Mar. 5) at Oklahoma City University.  Time and opponent are still to be determined.