CHICKASHA, Okla. – For the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team, 2018 has not started the way they would have liked. The Evangels played their fourth straight road game on Monday night, and unfortunately for the Evangels, the result was the same as the previous three.

NAIA #12 MACU (10-6, 4-4 SAC) was unable to hold a halftime lead, and though they played well, the Evangels had to watch as the #20 University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Drovers (14-3, 5-3 SAC) rallied to take the win, 91-83.

USAO built an early 6-point lead, and the Drovers pushed their advantage to 20-12 at the 12:42 mark before MACU was able to answer. The Evangels scored the next 12 points, and the run was capped by a pair of Jordan Rhodes free throws at the 7:13 mark that put MACU ahead 24-20. USAO wrestled the lead back in the final 90 second of the first half, but a 3-pointer from Chinua Massena with 43 seconds left in the half gave MACU a 33-32 lead, which they took into the locker room.

The game remained close for the first eight minutes of the second half, but USAO put together a 10-0 run over the span of just 2:10 to take a 67-56 lead with 10 minutes to play. MACU answered with an 8-0 spurt to trim the deficit to just three points, but a 14-2 USAO run stretched the Drovers' lead to 15, effectively ending the game, and USAO held on for the 91-83 win.

Rhodes led all scorers with 24 points in the game, Therence Mayimba added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Keyshawn Perkins chipped in a dozen and five assists. As a team, MACU shot the ball well for most of the night, making 29-of-53 (54.7%) shots in the game, including 6-of-17 (35.3%) 3-pointers. At the foul line, MACU was 19-for-25 (76%).

MACU will open their 2018 home slate on Thursday night by welcoming in the Warriors of Bacone College (3-13, 0-7 SAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.