Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – After spending more than a month away from the Gaulke Activity Center, the MACU men's basketball team struggled to slow down the red-hot Science & Arts shooting efforts as the Evangels fell 90-69 to the Drovers inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Monday night.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Seth Hurd – 12 Points, 4-7 FG, 4-6 FT, 3 Reb
• Eylan Goodwyn – 11 Points, 4-11 FG, 5 Reb
• Magok Manyang – 10 Points, 4-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 3 Reb
• Conner Calavan – 10 Points, 3-6 FG, 2-5 3FG, 2-2 FT, 4 Reb, 3 Steals

GAME SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Mid-America Christian (5-3, 2-2 SAC) got off to a strong start, holding the Drovers scoreless through the first few minutes while buckets by Mikel Henderson and Magok Manyang on MACU's first two possessions.
  • Science & Arts (8-2, 3-1 SAC) closed it to a one-possession game on multiple occasions over the next five minutes, the last coming on a Rory Pantophlet offensive board and put-back with 13:32 before Manyang sparked a five-point run capped off on his step-back three from the right wing to make it a 21-14 game with 12:39 left.
  • The Evangels maintained their advantage over the next seven minutes, going blow-for-blow with USAO as Eddie Smith made a sensational drive down the left lane before making a great dish to Seth Hurd for a layup with 5:08 to go, setting the score to 33-29.
  • After getting off to a strong start offensively, the Evangels went cold over the final five minutes with the only two MACU points coming off a quick Conner Calavan steal and layup with 25 seconds left as the Drovers ended the half on a 16-2 run to take a 45-35 lead into the halftime break.
• Second Half
  • Science & Arts continued to pull away to start the second half, outscoring MACU 15-4 through the first five minutes as an Anthony Ray three-ball from the right wing off a Cade Allen rebound and kickout to set the score to 60-39 with 14:54 to go.
  • The Drovers managed to stretch their lead to 22 at 62-40 with 12:40 on the clock before the Evangels started chipping their way back behind an 8-0 run off a pair of threes from Smith and Eylan Goodwyn before Calavan buried a pair of foul shots with 11:17 remaining to close it to 62-48.
  • The Drovers pulled their advantage back out following an 18-8 run over the next six minutes as Jaden Harrell's layup with 5:32 on-the-clock gave USAO an 80-56 lead.
  • Late in the contest, the Evangels went on a 6-1 run to bring it back to a 88-68 game on two Jalen Goar free throws with 1:50 remaining, but the Drovers eventually closed out the 90-69 win.

GAME NOTES

• After shooting 48.3 percent from the field in the first half, Mid-America Christian struggled from the field in the second half, shooting just 30 percent in the second half to finish 23-of-59 (39 percent) from the field, 8-for-28 (28.6 percent) from three and 15-for-23 (65.2 percent) from the foul line.
• Entering the contest as the third-best scoring defense and the top field goal percentage defense in the NAIA, the Evangels struggled to slow down the SAC's top scoring team as the Drovers shot 31-for-62 (50 percent) from the floor, 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from three and converted 19-for-26 (73.1 percent) from the charity stripe.
• One of the biggest factors in the result came on the glass as Science & Arts outrebounded MACU 50-32 with a 15-9 margin in offensive boards and 17-9 in second chance points.
• The Evangels put together a balanced offensive effort with four players scoring in double-figures and six with eight or more points, led by Seth Hurd with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 4-for-6 from the line to go with three boards.
• Eylan Goodwyn recorded his first double-digit scoring game of the season with 11 points and pulled down a team-high five boards.
• Magok Manyang and Conner Calavan each finished with 10 points to round out MACU's double-digit scorers.
• The Evangels were unable to snap their slump against the Drovers, who have now won eight straight games in the series since 2021.
• MACU played its first home game since suffering a 51-49 loss to Bethel on Nov. 7, its first game inside the Gaulke Activity Center in 34 days.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will look to try and bounce back in non-conference play on Thursday as the Evangels will host Evangel (Mo.) for a 3 p.m. tip-off inside the Gaulke Activity Center.