OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University men's team tipped off their 2018-19 season on Friday night, boasting a senior-laden lineup that features a nice mix of new faces and returning contributors. Fittingly, the Evangels were led by both on Friday night as they dispatched with the Manhattan Christian College (Kan.) Thunder.
MACU (1-0) roared out of the gate with a 3-point barrage early that helped MACU build an early lead which they never relinquished, as the Evangels took a 96-73 win from MCC.
Justin Bogle and Khalil Thompson scored the first 14 points for MACU as a part of a 16-2 run to open the game. Bogle connected on back-to-back 3-pointers on the Evangels' first two offensive possessions, and them Thompson scored eight straight points before Britt Hammons got into the scorebook to cap the 16-2 run which spanned the first 5:25 of game time.
Sophomore Dominick Ford provided a highlight reel moment seconds later, slashing to the rim from the left wing and finishing with a spectacular up-and-under move on a conventional three point play to push MACU's lead to 22-7, and the Evangels kept pushing the margin from there. With three minutes to play in the opening half, Daniel William picked up a steal on theright wing and took it in for the uncontested dunk to push the Evangels' lead to 20, and that came as a part of a 15-0 run that pushed the lead all the way to 31 points before MCC cut the margin to 57-28 at halftime.
The second half had little flow to it, as both teams committed fouls that lead to a plethora of free throws, but the Evangels continued to stretch out their lead. Thompson sank a pair of charity tosses with 13:18 to play that pushed the lead to a high water mark of 37, and the Evangels ground out the clock late, taking the 96-73 win.
Thompson had a game-high 26 in his first action as an Evangel, and four other MACU players reached double figures - Ford (14), Bogle (13), William (10) and Anthony Black (12). William added 10 boards for the double-double, and Black had four assists and three steals. As a team, MACU shot 30-for-74 (40.5%) in the game from the floor, including 12-for-36 (33.3%) from distance. MACU also added a 24-for-32 (75%) performance from the foul line, and they out-rebounded the Thunder 47-35.
MACU will remain at home for their next game - a date with the cross-town rival Randall University Saints (0-1). The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
