OKLAHOMA CITY - Saturday afternoon presented another tough challenge for the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball team. MACU hosted the NAIA #12 Langston University Lions, and the Evangels were ready and rose to the challenge, completing the season sweep of the Lions.
The Evangels (16-10, 9-9 SAC) earned their third win over a ranked NAIA opponent this season with a second half that saw them shoot 57% from the floor and 60% from 3-point land to take the 86-77 win over Langston (18-7, 10-7 SAC).
MACU opened the game on an 11-2 run, and the Evangels opened a 21-19 lead on a bucket with 10:28 to play in the opening half. Langston rallied though, and the Lions used a 14-2 run to tie the score at 26 with 7:23 to play in the half. MACU reclaimed the lead on a pair of Anthony Brown free throws and a put back from William Gibbons, but Langston kept the game close, tying the score twice and eventually grabbing a 37-34 lead on a 3-pointer with 1:07 to go in the half that provided the Lions with a 3-point halftime edge by that score.
The Lions pushed the lead to five, but MACU quickly tied the score on a jumper from Justin Bogle, and a made 3-pointer from Javan Perry that knotted things at 42. MACU eventually took a 4-point lead on a pair of free throws from Black, but Langston rallied one final time to take a 56-55 lead with 10:38 to play.
After the Lions took the lead, MACU answered with an 8-0 run that gave MACU a seven point advantage at 63-56 with 8:54 to go. The score was never closer than four points for the rest of the game, and MACU pushed the lead to as many as 13 before settling for the 86-77 win.
Black led the Evangels with 17 points, and he was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the game. Charles Beauregard, Jr. (15), Perry (14), and Dominick Ford (13) also scored in double figures for MACU. Justin Bogle led the Evangels with 10 rebounds, and Perry had three assists.
MACU made 29 of 65 (44.6%) from the field, and 8 of 24 (33.3%) from deep. MACU turned the game at the foul line, where they made 20 of 22 (90.9%) from the foul line.
MACU will wrap up their three game home stand on Thursday night when they host the NAIA #21 John Brown University Golden Eagles (18-8, 12-6 SAC). The game is slated for 8 p.m.
