OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU men's basketball team will be looking to finish strong in its three-game home stand as the Evangels will take on Wayland Baptist at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday before challenging Oklahoma Panhandle State at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 8-12 (5-9 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. Central Christian (Kan.) – 82-72 – Jan. 21, 2023 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Stat Leaders:
  • Points: DaRaun Clark (253, 15.8 ppg), Eylan Goodwyn (230, 12.1 ppg), Seth Hurd (168, 9.3 ppg)
  • FG% (Min. 3 FGM/G): Seth Hurd (50.7, 72-142), Eylan Goodwyn (49.4, 80-162), DaRaun Clark (39.0, 78-200)
  • 3FG% (Min. 1 3FGM/G): Jonathan Alexandre (36.9, 24-65), Conner Calavan (35.2, 32-91), DaRaun Clark (22.5, 16-71)
  • FT% (Min. 2 FTM/G): DaRaun Clark (79.4, 81-102), Eylan Goodwyn (75.3, 58-77)
  • Reb: Tarrence Gaines (136, 7.2 rpg), Seth Hurd (86, 4.8 rpg), Eylan Goodwyn (75, 3.9 rpg)
  • Assists: Jaylon Barnett (55, 3.1 apg), Trevonte Doolittle (32, 1.8 apg), Seth Hurd (30, 1.7 apg)
  • Steals: Jaylon Barnett (23, 1.3 spg), DaRaun Clark (17, 1.1 spg), Two Tied (15)
  • Blocks: Tarrence Gaines (14, 0.7 bpg), Two Tied (8)
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian snapped a three-game losing streak on Jan. 20 as the Evangels went on a late run to pick up an 82-72 victory over Central Christian.
  • In the victory over the Tigers, two or more Evangels score 20 or more points for the first time this season as Seth Hurd notched his first career double-double with a game-high 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and four assists while Eylan Goodwyn also poured in a career-high 22 points on 9-for-17 from the field to go with seven boards.
  • The Evangels put together one of its most efficient games offensively this season as MACU committed just 10 turnovers, its second-fewest in a game this season while also dominating the glass by outrebounding the Tigers, 36-24.
  • While MACU was cold with its three-point shooting, knocking down just 2-for-10 (20 percent) from downtown, the Evangels were aggressive in attacking the paint as MACU outscored Central Christian 60-26 from the lane.

SCOUTING REPORT
Wayland Baptist (Texas)

• Record: 13-6 (8-5 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. UNT-Dallas – 86-67 – Jan. 21, 2023 – Plainview, Texas
• Series vs. MACU (2008-): WBU leads 20-11
• Last Game vs. MACU: WBU won 78-68 – Dec. 3, 2022 – Plainview, Texas
• Players to Watch:
  • Tedrick Wolfe – SR – G/F
    • 320 Points (16.8 ppg), 132-232 FG (56.9%), 54-76 FT (71.1%), 86 Reb (4.5 rpg), 19 Assists (1.0 apg), 25 Steals (1.3 spg), 16 Blocks (0.8 bpg)
  • D'Michael Bellfield – JR – C
    • 259 Points (13.6 ppg), 108-167 FG (64.7%), 43-78 FT (55.1%), 104 Reb (5.5 rpg), 18 Assists (0.9 apg)
  • Parrish Hewitt – SR – G
    • 219 Points (12.9 ppg), 77-158 FG (48.7%), 30-70 3FG (42.9%), 35-44 FT (79.5%), 90 Reb (5.3 rpg), 62 Assists (3.6 apg), 26 Steals (1.5 spg)
• Team Notes:
  • After suffering back-to-back losses against Oklahoma City and Texas Wesleyan a few weeks ago, Wayland Baptist has bounced back after picking up three straight crucial SAC wins, including an 81-64 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God on Jan. 19 before cruising to an 86-67 victory in Plainview on Jan. 21.
  • Wayland Baptist is one of the best offensive teams in the NAIA as the Pioneers rank third in the SAC and 10^th in the nation in points per game (86.7). A statement to the Pioneers success has been their efficient shooting, ranking 18^th in field goal percentage (49.8) with the SAC leading and nationally 14^th-ranked three-point percentage (39.0).
  • With the return of Reese Spencer in December, the Pioneers feature an incredibly balanced scoring lineup with five players averaging in double-digit scoring. Senior combo guard/forward Tedrick Wolfe leads the WBU scoring efforts at 16.8 ppg on a highly efficient 56.7 percent shooting clip. The reigning SAC Player of the Week D'Michael Bellfield is the league's most proficient shooter, converting on 64.7 percent of his attempts for a 13.6 ppg scoring average.
  • Mid-America Christian will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Pioneers. In their previous meeting in Plainview, Texas, the Evangels battled back from a 21-point deficit in the second half to trail by just six with 2:56 left, but MACU was unable to make any further dents in the Wayland lead as the Pioneers pulled out the 78-68 win. Tarrence Gaines put together a massive game for MACU, scoring 15 points and pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds in the defeat.
  • The Evangels will be hosting Nerd Night for MACU students throughout the game. Participants are encouraged to dress in nerd attire and report to Brooke Brown before the start of the women's game to be eligible for a prize drawing at halftime of the men's game. Free merchandise will also be given away to fans throughout each game.

Oklahoma Panhandle State

• Record: 2-17 (1-12 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. SW Assemblies of God (Texas) – 108-77
• Series vs. MACU (2018-): MACU leads 5-4
• Last Game vs. MACU: MACU won 73-70 – Dec. 1, 2022 – Goodwell, Okla.
• Players to Watch:
  • Rayquan Elliott – SR – G
    • 576 Points (32.0 ppg), 196-394 FG (49.7%), 46-122 3FG (37.7%), 138-170 FT (81.2%), 73 Reb (4.1 rpg), 30 Assists (1.7 apg), 16 Steals (0.9 spg)
  • Justin Pile – JR – G/F
    • 273 Points (16.1 ppg), 104-184 FG (56.5%), 61-84 FT (72.6%), 135 Reb (7.9 rpg), 16 Assists (0.9 apg)
  • Kaleb Stephens – SO – G
    • 135 Points (7.1 ppg), 40-106 FG (37.7%), 47-69 FT (68.1%), 74 Reb (3.9 rpg), 45 Assists (2.4 apg), 44 Steals (2.3 spg)
• Team Notes:
  • Oklahoma Panhandle State picked up its first SAC win on Jan. 5 with a stunning 98-97 win over Oklahoma City, but since then, the Aggies have dropped five straight while losing by a 17.6 points per game margin.
  • While OPSU is a solid offensive team, ranking seventh in the SAC in scoring average (80.1 ppg) on the league's sixth-best field goal percentage (46.4) and second-best free throw percentage (74.3), the Aggies have struggled defensively, allowing a league-worst 93.0 ppg.
  • Headlining the OPSU offensive efforts is the nation's leading scorer in Rayquan Elliott. The senior guard is averaging 32.0 ppg on a 49.7 percent shooting clip, including going 37.7 percent from behind the arc and 81.2 percent from the foul line. Justin Pile has also been a proven threat for the Aggies this season, averaging 16.1 ppg while also averaging the SAC's fifth-best rebounding rate at 7.9.
  • While the all-time series is relatively even, Mid-America Christian has fared well in its last few outings against the Aggies. MACU picked up its first SAC win of the season in Goodwell on Dec. 1. In the win, DaRaun Clark came off the bench to score 21 points, knocking down 9-of-11 free throw attempts while Tarrence Gaines poured in 11. The last time they met up inside the Gaulke Activity Center, the Evangels came away with the 86-71 win on Jan. 22, 2022.