OKLAHOMA CITY -- On a day that Mid-America Christian University head coach Willie Holley matched legendary coach Eddie Sutton's 804 win total, it was with a defensive effort that Sutton himself would have been proud of.  The No. 14-ranked Evangels stifled the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers to only 28.4 percent shooting (19-of-67) from the floor and won 69-55 today (Feb. 7) to stay on top of the Sooner Athletic Conference. 

The Evangels are now 9-3 in the SAC and lead Wayland Baptist University and Oklahoma City University by one game. 

MACU seized control with a 13-2 spurt midway through the second half that stretched a six-point edge into a 17-point cushion at the 8:01 mark of the second half.

The Evangels put it in cruise control the rest of the way, as the closest the Cavaliers could climb was 11 with 1:24 left.

The opening half was close throughout with four ties and the Cavaliers took a one-point lead on a three by Marquarius Boddie that made it 28-27 at the 3:32 mark.

But that's the last time the Cavaliers would lead as Jason Nwisienyi scored consecutive buckets that helped the Evangels carry a 33-28 lead into the locker room.

Jarius Wilson led the Evangels (16-8, 9-3 SAC) with 14 points and Semar Farris scored 11.  Nwisienyi and Chris Runnels each chipped in with 10, while Brock Hunter had eight points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists.

Boddie and Dylan Lemley each paced the Cavaliers (11-9, 7-5 SAC) with 11 points, with Lemley also securing a team-high nine boards.  Marty Wilkerson had 10 points and a team-high seven assists.

The Evangels also dominated the glass to the tune of a 52-39 rebounding edge overall.

MACU will now hit the road for five of their final six games, starting next Thursday night (Feb. 12) at John Brown University.  Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. in Siloam Springs, Ark.