OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team erased a 17-point deficit in a little less than eight minutes in the second half of their game against Texas Wesleyan University on Thursday night, Unfortunately, they were unable to finish that rally, and the Rams came back to win the game.
MACU (12-10, 5-9 SAC) took a 73-69 lead with a 26-5 run, but Texas Wesleyan (11-11, 6-8 SAC) closed the game on a 13-3 run to take the win 82-76.
The game for most of the first half. The margin remained within six points for all but the final 32 seconds of the half. The lead traded hands eight times, and it was tied four more times, thanks in part to the hot shooting from the Cade Upshaw from beyond the arc. Upshaw hit four 3-point rockets in a 10 possession span in the middle of the first half, and with 4:52 to play in the half, the score was tied at 34. The Rams went on an 8-0 run to end the half, though, as MACU missed their last seven shots of the period, and at the intermission, Texas Wesleyan led 42-34.
The Rams methodically stretched their lead to 64-47 with 10:24 to go in the game, but MACU mounted one last charge. Charles Beauregard, Jr. buried a 3-pointer with 9:44 to play to ignite the run, and by the time it was over, the Gaulke Activity Center was rocking and rolling. MACU cut the deficit to single digits for good on a made jumper from Justin Bogle with 6:30 to go, and with 4:18 to play, Britt Hammons took a pass from Bogle and scored to tie the game at 68. Hammons missed the chance at a 3-point play, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Beauregard capped the run with 3:01 to play and gave MACU the 74-69 lead.
Texas Wesleyan scored the next nine points to take a 78-73 lead with 28 seconds to go. Anthony Black knocked in a 3-ball with 19 seconds to go in the game, but the Rams got a quick bucket and two free throws to take the win 82-76.
Beauregard, Jr. led the Evangels with 15 points in the game, Upshaw added a dozen, and Black had 11. Zach Sawyer narrowly missed a double-double as well, as he scored eight points and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds. Upshaw and Javan Perry each had five assists, and Black picked up three steals in the game.
MACU made 30 of 72 (41.7%) shots in the game, and 15 of 37 (40.5%) from beyond the arc. The Evangels did endure uncharacteristic struggles from the foul line, as they made only one of seven (14.3%) foul shots in the loss.
The Evangels will face a tough test on Saturday afternoon, as they head outside the state of Oklahoma for the final time in the regular season. MACU will take on Southwestern Assemblies of God University (14-8, 7-7 SAC) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
