Muskogee, Okla. – After two dropping two straight heartbreaking losses in the final seconds, the No. 21-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels made sure there would be no drama in this one by cruising to a 97-70 victory over the Bacone College Warriors in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup tonight (Jan. 21) in Muskogee, Okla.
The Evangels used a 12-3 run early in the second half to turn a close game into a comfortable win down the stretch.
It was a 45-40 lead at the break when five different players scored to key the second half-opening nine-point surge that was capped with threes by Chris Bates and Olajuwon Garner and stretched the lead to 57-43 at the 15:22 mark.
With the Warriors hanging around down 10, the Evangels quickly closed the door as Trey Slate nailed two threes to key a 14-1 burst that increased the lead to 80-57 with 7:34 left.
MACU was never threatened again, eventually stretching the lead to a game-high of 27 points to finish the win.
The Warriors came out strong early, leading 8-2 within the first 1:07 of the contest.
The Evangels then turned the tide with a 17-4 spurt to jump ahead and never trailed the rest of the way.
Garner led five Evangels (13-7, 4-4 SAC) in double-figure scoring with 19 points and Tyler Chaisson scored 16.
Bates and Ex'Zavia Seaton each scored 13, with Seaton also pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds. The 14 boards are only one shy of Seaton's career-best tally.
Devonse Reed scored 11 and Malcolm Mann had a game-high five assists for MACU.
Richie Spiller led the Warriors (3-12, 1-7 SAC) with 17 points, followed by Brandon Scott with 14. Kevin Pritchett scored 11 along with a team-high eight rebounds.
The Evangels' defensive effort was stifling throughout, holding the Warriors to only 25 percent (22-of-88) from the field and 11.5 percent (3-of-26) from beyond the arc.
In the second half, the Evangels were even stingier, as the Warriors shot only 23.5 percent (12-of-51) while missing all 10 of their three-point attempts.
The Evangels will next conclude their four-game road trip next Thursday night (Jan. 26) at Southwestern Christian University. Tip-off will be at 8 pm in Bethany, Okla.
