OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian University Evangels' second half comeback was stopped short as the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers held on for an 88-78 win in Sooner Athletic Conference action tonight (Feb. 4) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Evangels fell behind by nine at the half and the Drovers quickly extended the deficit to 17 by scoring the first eight points of the second half.
Olajuwon Garner brought the Evangels back with two treys and 10 points to fuel a 19-5 run that covered only 4:39 to cut the Drover lead to 54-51.
MACU eventually caught the Drovers and passed them, thanks to two free throws and then a three from Robert Romero that capped an 8-2 spurt and put the Evangels on top 66-64 with 7:47 remaining.
But the Drovers had a swift response with seven straight points to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way.
After Ex'Zavia Seaton scored to stop the run and pull the Evangels within three, five straight points from Taran Buie stretched the Drover lead back to eight with 3:51 left.
With the Evangels clawing back within five on a free throw by Tyler Chaisson and a score from Malcolm Mann, buckets from Buie and Hutch Peterson made it a nine-point game at the 2:08 mark and the Evangels got no closer than six from that point.
The Evangels held a six-point lead of 23-17 in the first half following a three by Trey Slate, but Buie keyed a 15-2 burst with 10 points to put USAO in front by seven.
Following five straight points from Seaton that pulled the Evangels within 32-30, the Drovers scored the next nine points before Garner hit a jumper that made it 41-32 at the break.
Garner led the Evangels (14-10, 5-7 SAC) with 22 points and Chris Bates added 10. Seaton had a team-high 11 rebounds, with Mann and Keyshawn Perkins each dishing out four assists.
Buie, the NAIA's leading scorer, produced a game-high 35 points in the win for the Drovers (12-11, 7-5 SAC). Imani Edwards scored 20 with four assists and Julius Foster chipped in with 13 points. Brian Robinson pulled down a team-best eight boards for USAO.
The Evangels will next play at Wayland Baptist University next Thursday night (Feb. 9) at 8 pm in Plainview, Texas. MACU snuck past WBU 100-99 in OT at home in the first meeting this season (Jan. 12).
