OKLAHOMA CITY - Six games into the 2018-19 season, the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team ranks in the top five in NAIA Division I in both scoring offense and free throw percentage. Both of those traits were on full display on Saturday afternoon at the Gaulke Activity Center.
MACU (5-1) used a 23-0 first half run to spark their largest offensive output since January 10, 2017 as they crushed the Nebraska Christian College Sentinels (3-5) 118-70. MACU scored 35 of those points at the free throw line,
The sentinels actually scored first when Matt Lillquist put in a layup with 18:10 remaining in the first half. The Evangels tied the game when Will Gibbons scored 29 seconds later, and that was all the spark MACU needed. The Evangels held the Sentinels without a field goal for the next 8:41 of game time, and in that span, MACU scored 23 straight points to build a 25-3 lead. MACU built their lead to as many as 29 in the opening stanza, and at the break, MACU led 54-26.
In the second half, MACU did not take the foot off the gas, and Nebraska Christian continued to press for most of the period. MACU used an 8-0 spurt early in the half to push their lead to 65-29 on a traditional 3-point play from Anthony Black 17:59 to go in the game. MACU did not have any long runs in the second half, rather they stretched their lead out methodically. The advantage reached the 40 point barrier for the first time at the on a bucket from Justin Bogle with 15:44 to play, and the Evangels cruised home from there. Zach Sawyer scored with 1:04 left to push the MACU lead to 50 for the first time, and the advantage crested at 52 on a pair of Calon Woodson free throws with 51 seconds to play before NCC scored the final four points of the game, as MACU took the win 118-70.
Charles Beauregard, Jr. led the Evangels in scoring and tied for the game-high with 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range, and a perfect 7-for-7 from the foul line. Britt Hammons and Tony Kumanovic had season-high scoring efforts, pouring in 18 and 12 points respectively, and Anthony Black (17), Bogle (14), Cade Upshaw (14), and Khalil Thompson (12) also scored in double-figures. Bogle grabbed a team leading seven rebounds, and Hammons added six boards, Bogle and Black each had four assists, and Bogle picked up six steals.
As a team, MACU made 35-of-69 (50.7%) shots, and they hit 13-of-34 (38.2%) from deep. They shined at the foul line, though, making 35-of-37 charity tosses (94.6%). The Evangels out-rebounded NCC 43-36, and the Evangels notched 16 steals as a team as well.
The Evangels will hit the road for the first time this season on Thursday, November 29, when they head west to take on the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies (5-2) to open up Sooner Athletic Conference play. Tip-off is slated for 8 pm. in Goodwell, Oklahoma.
