OKLAHOMA CITY – With just two games remaining in the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball season, the Evangels need to keep winning and get help if they want to get a home game in the opening round of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament. Though it may not have come the way the Evangels would have scripted, they took a big win in the SAC race to keep the pressure on those above them in the standings.
MACU (16-10, 10-8 SAC) needed overtime, but in the final 10 seconds of the extra session, Andre Horne rattled home a 3-pointer to put MACU on top 81-80, and a desperation toss from Wayland Baptist University (18-9, 11-6 SAC) from the corner went long with Horne securing the rebound as time expired, and MACU took the win 81-80.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the start, but with 7:52 to play in the opening period, Horne knocked down a 3-pointer to ignite a 12-0 run that gave MACU an 8-point lead with 4:50 to go in the first half. WBU erased the deficit in just 1:14, but MACU pulled away to a seven point halftime lead at 39-32.
The second half got off to a rough start for MACU. The Evangels first four points all came from the foul line, as MACU opened the second half 0-for-11 from the floor, and the Evangels did not make a shot from the floor in the first 7:23 of the second half. The MACU defense, however, kept Wayland from pulling away, and the Evangels held the lead for much of the second frame. The Evangels got a 3-pointer from Cade Upshaw with 10:12 to play to push their lead to five, and after WBU rallied to take a brief lead, Chinua Massena knocked down a mid-range jumper to put MACU up 68-61 with just 55 seconds to play. WBU, however, managed to roar back to tie the score at 68 with 26 seconds to play, and a shot from Keyshawn Perkins bounced off the rim as time expired, sending MACU to overtime for the second time in three games, tied at 68.
WBU struck first in overtime, but a pair of free throws from Horne tied the score at 70 with 4:03 to play. Again, MACU built a 5-point lead, when Massena scored on the fast break with 1:42 to play to put the Evangels on top 78-73, but again WBU roared back. This time the Pioneers rattled off seven straight points, capped by a 3-pointer from Ruben Lopez with 23 seconds to go. MACU elected to go for the win, and with seven seconds left, Justin Bogle dished the ball off to Horne who connected from long range, to put MACU up 81-80, and for good measure, Horne grabbed the rebound off the Pioneers desperation toss from the right wing corner as time expired to preserve the win.
Horne scored 24 points in the game, and he was a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Jordan Rhodes had 19 points and nine rebounds in the game, and Massena chipped in a dozen tallies as well. MACU made 32-of-65 (49.2%) from the floor, including 8-of-21 (38.1%) from deep. MACU was also 9-of-12 (75%) from the foul line in the game.
The Evangels will look to avenge an earlier season loss and keep the pressure on teams above them in the standings on Saturday afternoon when they take to the floor to battle the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (11-14, 4-13 SAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
