WICHITA FALLS, Texas - After a heartbreaking loss on Saturday afternoon, the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team had precious little time to regroup before closing out their 2018 slate. MACU headed south to take on the NCAA Division II Midwestern State University Mustangs in an exhibition tilt, and despite the short turnaround, the Evangels were ready to play on Monday night.
MACU shot the ball at better than 52% in the first half on their way to building a 41-35 halftime advantage, and the Evangels held off a charge from MSU (3-7) in the second half to claim an 84-79 win.
Midwestern State opened an early 14-7 lead in the opening 6:31 of the game, but MACU answered emphatically. Britt Hammons, Charles Beauregard, Jr., and Justin Bogle combined to author a 12-0 run over the span of 2:10 to take a 19-14 lead. After MSU bounced back to take a 31-29 lead with 5:46 left in the first half, MACU strung together another 8-0 run to reclaim the 37-31 edge on their way to a 41-35 halftime lead.
The Mustangs closed the gap to 49-46 over the opening 4:12 of the second frame, but MACU scored eight straight points to take their largest lead of the night at 57-46 on a 3-pointer from Cade Upshaw with 13:59 left in the game. MSU answered with a 12-0 run to reclaim the lead with 9:27 to go in the game, and the game remained close the rest of the way. The lead swapped hands in the next 34 seconds, but MSU slowly opened up a 69-65 lead with 5:30 to play. MACU mounted a final charge and reclaimed the lead on back-to-back 3-pointers from Bogle, and with 3:19 to play, Hammons laid a shot in to give MACU a 75-73 lead. Over the waning moments, MACU sealed the game at the free throw line, and the Evangels took the exhibition win 84-79.
Bogle posted 27 points - which would have been a career high had it not occurred in an exhibition - and he also grabbed seven rebounds. Beauregard, Jr. added 21 in the game, while Hammons and Dominick Ford chipped in seven points apiece. Upshaw, Khalil Thompson, and Anthony Black each dished out a trio of assists in the contest as well.
MACU connected on 26 of 57 (45.6%) shots in the game, 11 of 30 (36.7%) 3-point tries, and 21 of 24 (87.5%) free throws. MACU out-rebounded MSU 39-36, and the Evangels overcame 16 turnovers which led to 19 Mustangs' points.
The Evangels will not take to the floor again this year, as the team will take time off to celebrate the Christmas holiday before returning to Sooner Athletic Conference play for the rest of the campaign in January. MACU will open their 2019 slate on January 14 with a date at NAIA #14 Oklahoma City University (8-2, 3-1 SAC) at 8 p.m.
