OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 11-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels avenged a two-point setback earlier this season with a resounding 94-79 victory over the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup tonight (Feb. 11) inside the Gaulke Activity Center. 

The Evangels are now 20-5 overall this season, the fastest they've reached the 20-win mark since joining the NAIA in 2007.  

MACU led from the 17:05 mark of the first half, but the Drovers hung around until the Evangels pulled away down the stretch of the second half. 

Maintaining a seven-point lead that matched the closest the Drovers got in the second half, Nick Tate put things away by scoring the first five points and seven overall of a game-deciding 14-0 run that ran the Evangel lead to 94-73 with 1:58 remaining. 

In the opening half, Malcom Mann gave the Evangels the lead for good and MACU extended the edge to 14 before settling for a 48-39 lead at the break. 

Tate scored a team-high 20 for the Evangels (20-5, 10-3 SAC) and Devonse Reed had 19 points. Chris Runnels had 13 and Bryon Miller added 10 points. Ex'Zavia Seaton secured a team-best nine rebounds. 

Taron Buie paced the Drovers (12-9, 7-6 SAC) with 27 points, while Richard McCalop recorded a double-double of 22 points and 11 boards. 

USAO held a narrow 48-45 edge in total rebounds, but the Evangels outscored the Drovers 40-28 in the paint and 10-4 in second-chance points.

MACU also limited the Drovers to only 34.2 percent (25-of-73) shooting for the game and 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from the perimeter. 

The Evangels next hit the road and play at Wayland Baptist University Saturday afternoon (Feb. 13) at 3 p.m. in Plainview, Texas.  MACU bested WBU 95-85 at home in the season's first matchup (Jan. 9) between the two schools.