Shawnee, Okla. -- The No. 15-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels won for the sixth straight time by defeating the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers 105-96 in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup tonight (Jan. 16) at the W.P. Wood Fieldhouse in Shawnee, Okla.
In the process, the Evangels reached the century mark for the ninth time this season and improved to 8-1 in those games.
Despite five ties in the contest, the Evangels never trailed throughout and pulled away for the final time when Bryon Miller hit a three to ignite an 11-3 spurt that stretched a two-point edge into a 10-point bulge with 3:23 remaining.
The Evangels then put the finishing touches on the victory by hitting 8-of-10 from the charity stripe over the final 1:35.
MACU started hot as Devonse Reed (7) and Miller (5) combined for all 12 points of a 12-4 game-opening run during the first four minutes of the game.
After Stephen Walter (8) and Rodney Smith) teamed up for 14 points to spark a 16-6 spurt to bring the Cavaliers within one, Jerrick Massenburge hit a three and Nick Tate scored six points to key a 15-2 burst that resulted in the Evangels' biggest lead of the game at 44-30 at the 5:37 mark of the opening half.
The rollercoaster first half continued as the Cavaliers made hay at the charity stripe, hitting 11 free-throws to score 13 straight and come within one again with 2:01 left.
The Evangels answered with four free-throws of their own and ended the half on a 6-1 spurt to lead 50-44 at the break.
In the second half, the Cavaliers pulled even five times and crawled within one nine different times, but each time the Evangels had an answer to keep SGU at bay.
Tate fueled the Evangels (14-3, 4-1 SAC) victory with a career-best 27 points along with a team-high nine rebounds. Reed and Miller each scored 19 and Massenburge added 11 points. Chris Runnels also reached double-figure scoring with 10 points, while Malcolm Mann recorded a team-best five assists for the Evangels.
Richard Shields led the Cavaliers (7-7, 2-4 SAC) with 23 points and Walter produced a double-double of 19 points and 10 boards. Smith and Michael Hawkins each scored 18 points.
A big key to the Evangels' win was controlling the interior, as the Evangels outrebounded SGU 45-38 and outscored the Cavaliers 52-36 in the paint.
The Evangels will next go for their seventh straight win in an NAIA Top 25 showdown next Thursday night (Jan. 21) against No. 18-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
