OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Basketball team is ready to host crosstown rival Southwestern Christian in its final home game of the 2024 slate on Thursday night before it heads up to Abe Lemons Arena to take on Oklahoma City at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Thursday night's contest will be a Teddy Bear Toss Night where anyone who brings a teddy bear will be granted free admission. The toss will take place before the men's game at 8 p.m. with the teddy bears in conjunction with Shartel Church of God being donated to the OU Children's Hospital.

The Evangels will also be holding more special games and giveaways throughout the night, including a $250 Evangel Corner giftcard half-court shot contest at halftime of both the women's and men's games as well as an ugly Christmas sweater contest.
 
SEASON REPORT

• Record: 6-3 (3-3 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost at No. 1 Langston – 65-61 – Nov. 26, 2024 – Langston, Okla.
• Stat Leaders:
  • Points: Josiah Fulcher (164, 18.2 ppg), Juwan White (110, 12.2 ppg)
  • FG Percentage (Min. 3 FGM/G): Josiah Fulcher (56.8, 63-111), Keeshawn Mason (50.0, 42-84)
  • 3FG Percentage (Min. 1 3FGM/G): Magok Manyang (41.3, 19-46), Josiah Fulcher (39.5, 17-43)
  • FT Percentage (Min. 2 FTM/G): Josiah Fulcher (91.3, 21-23), Juwan White (82.8, 24-29)
  • Rebounds: Magok Manyang (61, 6.8 rpg), Tarrence Gaines (57, 6.3 rpg)
  • Assists: Juwan White (40, 4.4 apg), Josiah Fulcher (23, 2.6 apg)
  • Steals: Josiah Fulcher (14, 1.6 spg), Two Tied (10)
  • Blocks: Tarrence Gaines (8, 0.9 bpg), Magok Manyang (8, 0.9 bpg)
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian gave Langston its toughest challenge inside C.F. Gayles Fieldhouse over the last two seasons back on Nov. 26 as the Evangels went toe-to-toe with the top-ranked Lions. However, the Evangels were not quite able to hand LU its first home loss in two years by falling in the 65-61 result.
  • In the defeat, MACU managed to grab a late 57-56 lead on Magok Manyang's lay-in off the Keeshawn Mason lob with just over two minutes remaining. However, Langston took the lead for good on a Bryce Monroe three on the ensuing possession while Monroe went 6-for-6 from the foul line over the final 48 seconds to keep MACU from completing the comeback.
  • One area that the Evangels have excelled in this season is their incredible balance on the offensive end as MACU has nearly five players that are averaging in double-figure scoring with Josiah Fulcher (18.2), Juwan White (12.2), Manyang (11.2) and Mason (10.8) all cracking double-digits while Tarrence Gaines just barely sits outside of the 10-point barrier at 9.7 ppg.
  • Playing in its final league games before the Christmas break, MACU will be looking to keep pace with a frantic pack in the conference as the Evangels are one of eight teams in the conference with a .500 or better record in league play and are only 2.5 games back of Wayland Baptist at the top of the conference standings.

SCOUTING REPORT
Southwestern Christian

• Record: 4-7 (2-6 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State – 56-52 – Dec. 7, 2024 – Bethany, Okla.
• Series vs MACU (2003-): MACU leads 28-13
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 99-77 – Jan. 29, 2024 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: MACU won 2
• Players to Watch:
  • Deondre Dunn – R-SO – G
    • 198 Points (18.0 ppg), 72-159 FG (45.3%), 27-74 3FG (36.5%), 27-35 FT (77.1%), 70 Reb (6.4 rpg), 12 Assists (1.1 apg), 12 Steals (1.1 spg)
  • Michal Wooldridge – R-SO – F
    • 163 Points (14.8 ppg), 61-136 FG (44.9%), 35-57 FT (61.4%), 78 Reb (7.1 rpg), 19 Assists (1.7 apg)
  • George McCurdy – SR – G
    • 115 Points (10.5 ppg), 34-88 FG (38.6%), 10-32 3FG (31.3%), 37-50 FT (74.0%), 49 Reb (4.5 rpg), 34 Assists (3.1 apg)
• Team Notes:
  • Since putting together a strong showing at the Abe Lemons Classic to open the season where Southwestern Christian went 2-1 with the only loss coming in a hard-fought 67-63 defeat to No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan, the Eagles have hit a rough patch to start SAC play. SCU went 1-6 through their first seven league games before finally breaking the slump with a 56-52 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday.
  • Overall, SCU has been incredibly challenged on offensive end this season as the Eagles rank last in the league in scoring average (65.5 ppg), shooting a SAC worst 39.1 percent from the field as well as the second-lowest three-point percentage (30.6). Southwestern Christian has not fared much better on the defensive end as the Eagles rank as just the ninth-best scoring defense (74.1 ppg). Even though SCU has been relatively solid defensively with the fourth-best field goal percentage defense (41.7) and second-best three-point defense (30.2), the glass has been a liability for Southwestern Christian as the Eagles rank dead last in the league in rebounding margin at -6.4.
  • Despite SCU's offensive struggles, one of the bright spots for the team this season has been the evolution of redshirt sophomore guard Deondre Dunn. Even though he has seen limited action for the Eagles over the last two seasons, this year, the guard is averaging 18.0 ppg on a strong 45.3 shooting percentage while knocking down 36.5 percent from behind the arc while also pulling down 6.4 rebounds per game. Redshirt sophomore forward Michal Woodridge is another player that has seen marked improvement from his freshman season, increasing his scoring total by six points at 14.8 ppg on a 44.9 percent shooting clip while yanking down 7.1 boards per contest.
  • Mid-America Christian thoroughly dominated the season series last year against Southwestern Christian as MACU picked up a 99-64 win inside Pickens-Springer Gymnasium on Jan. 8 before getting a 99-77 win inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Jan. 29.

Oklahoma City

• Record: 8-4 (4-4 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. Wayland Baptist (Texas) – 79-77 – Dec. 7, 2024 – Oklahoma City
• Series vs MACU (2003-): OCU leads 21-18
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 69-63 – Feb. 22, 2024 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: MACU won 2
• Players to Watch:
  • Avery Jackson – JR – G
    • 243 Points (20.3 ppg), 67-146 FG (45.9%), 22-68 3FG (32.4%), 87-105 FT (82.9%), 57 Reb (4.8 rpg), 40 Assists (3.3 apg), 17 Steals (1.4 spg)
  • Clayton Jewell – SO – F
    • 173 Points (14.4 ppg), 77-135 FG (57.0%), 15-24 FT (62.5%), 115 Reb (9.6 rpg), 13 Assists (1.1 apg), 11 Blocks (0.9 bpg)
  • Yorgio Golesis – SO – G
    • 169 Points (14.1 ppg), 56-136 FG (41.2%), 11-31 3FG (35.5%), 46-64 FT (71.9%), 42 Reb (3.5 rpg), 67 Assists (5.6 apg), 11 Steals (0.9 spg)
• Team Notes:
  • After getting off to a stellar 7-1 start to the season that featured a pair of NAIA Top Five wins over No. 1 Langston and No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan, Oklahoma City has hit a bit of a rough stretch in the last few weeks. The Stars have lost three of their last four games after suffering a tough 79-77 loss to Wayland Baptist on Dec. 7.
  • OCU sits on opposite ends of the spectrum with its offense and defense as the Stars pose the second-best scoring offense in the SAC at 79.3 ppg, which is due in-large part to the team's ability to get to the free throw line. The Stars are the league's best free throw shooting team, going 210-for-282 (74.5 percent) from the line for the fourth-most made freebies in the NAIA. However, the Stars have given up a high volume on the defensive end as Oklahoma City is the second-worst scoring defense in the conference at 78.3 ppg.
  • Highly experienced junior guard Avery Jackson has been a big reason for the Stars production offensively as he ranks second in the SAC in scoring at 20.3 ppg while also being a stellar distributor at 3.3 assists per contest. Sophomore forward Clayton Jewell has also been remarkable in his second year in the program, nearly averaging a double-double at 14.4 ppg and 9.6 rpg while posting one of the best shooting percentages in the conference at 57.0.
  • Mid-America Christian fared well against Oklahoma City last season as the Evangels won both meetings. MACU picked up a 79-65 win inside Abe Lemons Arena last season on Jan. 11 before holding off a late Stars rally for a 69-63 victory inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Feb. 22.