FORT WORTH, Texas – Saturday afternoon was a textbook example of how depth can help in a basketball game. The Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team did not have any of the top three scorers in their game against Texas Wesleyan University, but it was the Evangels who had more depth of scoring options, and in the end that proved enough to pick up a big road win.
NAIA #20 MACU (9-2, 4-0 SAC) had six scorers in double-figures, as the Evangels picked up a road victory over defending NAIA Division I National Champion Texas Wesleyan University (6-5, 1-3 SAC), 77-71.
Texas Wesleyan opened the game with the first five points of the night, but MACU bounced back to claim the lead with an 11-2 run that put the Evangels up 11-7 with 16:03 to go in the first half. The Rams answered with a 17-5 spurt to take a 24-16 lead, and TWU eventually led by as many as nine at 28-19 with 7:04 to play. The Evangels, however, closed the half on a 19-2 run to take a 38-30 lead into the locker room at the break.
Jordan Rhodes connected on a 3-pointer to open the second half to push the Evangels' lead to 11, but the Rams began to whittle away at the deficit, eventually closing the gap to only two with 12:27 to play. The Evangels, however, repelled the run, and they did not relinquish the lead. MACU led by as many eight down the stretch, and the Evangels sealed the game at the foul line, as they took the win, 77-71.
Cade Upshaw led the contingent of MACU scorers with 14 points in the game, including a 6-for-6 effort from the foul line. Rhodes and Javan Perry each had 13, Keyshawn Perkins and Justin Bogle chipped in 11 apiece, and Therence Mayimba added 10 in the game. Mayimba posted a team-best eight rebounds, and Perry dished out five assists in the game. As a team, MACU made 24-of-56 (42.9%) shots from the floor, including 14-of-30 (46.7%) from 3-point land. The Evangels were also lights out from the free throw line, making 15-of-17 (88.2%) from the charity stripe.
MACU will be off for the remainder of 2017, and the Evangels will return to the court on January 4, 2018 when they head to nearby Bethany, Oklahoma to take on the Southwestern Christian University Eagles (7-4, 3-1 SAC) at 8 p.m.
