OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Basketball team squared off against Southwestern Christian inside the Gaulke Activity Center in December and due to SCU getting water damage to their gym floor earlier this month, the Evangels will be welcoming back the Eagles inside the Gaulke on Thursday as the two teams are set to square off for an 8 p.m. tip.
 
SEASON REPORT

• Record: 14-5 (10-5 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. No. 8 Langston (Okla.) – 88-67 – Jan. 20, 2025 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Stat Leaders:
  • Points: Josiah Fulcher (316, 16.6 ppg), Juwan White (251, 13.2 ppg)
  • FG Percentage (Min 3 FGM/G): Josiah Fulcher (51.3, 119-232), Keeshawn Mason (46.5, 79-170)
  • 3FG Percentage (Min 1 3FGM/G): Magok Manyang (40.4, 36-89), Josiah Fulcher (39.7, 29-73)
  • FT Percentage (Min 2 FTM/G): Josiah Fulcher (87.5, 49-56), Juwan White (83.6, 51-61)
  • Rebounds: Tarrence Gaines (114, 6.0 rpg), Magok Manyang (109, 5.7 rpg)
  • Assists: Juwan White (86, 4.5 apg), Josiah Fulcher (49, 2.6 apg)
  • Steals: Josiah Fulcher (26, 1.4 spg), Juwan White (22, 1.2 spg)
  • Blocks: Tarrence Gaines (15, 0.8 bpg) Magok Manyang (14, 0.7 bpg)
• Team Notes:
  • Facing off against the NAIA's best scoring defense in No. 8 Langston on Monday night, Mid-America Christian was able to stun the Lions by putting together its best shooting performance of the season as MACU shot 60.4 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from the three-point arc to run away with an 88-67 victory.
  • The tandem of Josiah Fulcher and Juwan White were downright outstanding in the win as the duo combined to score 46 points. Fulcher notched a double-double with 24 points on 7-for-11 shooting, going 10-of-11 from the free throw line to go with 11 boards while White just barely missed a double-double with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, going 4-for-5 from three to go with eight assists.
  • The win over the powerhouse Lions team was an eye-opening one on the national stage as it was the largest margin of victory over last year's NAIA National Runner-Up since Chris Wright took over the program in 2022. In that period, Langston has only suffered eight losses with the previous largest margin of defeat for LU coming in a 72-58 result at Southwestern Assemblies of God (Nelson) on Feb. 1, 2024.
  • Over the last four games, MACU has been making a statement on its home court as the Evangels have recorded wins against the three top teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference, tallying a 71-67 win over Wayland Baptist on Jan. 11 before picking up a 70-52 victory over Nelson on Jan. 18 to go along with the win over Langston.
  • With is seven-board performance in the win, redshirt senior guard Tarrence Gaines has continued to climb MACU's NAIA Era (2007-present) career rebounding list as he has moved into a tie for fourth with Reggie Davis (2012-15) with 472 boards. Gaines is chasing some MACU legends, as he needs just 19 more to match Brandon Williams (2008-12) for third and 68 to catch MACU's 2010s Player of the Decade Charlie Shorter (2008-13).

SCOUTING REPORT
Southwestern Christian (Okla.)

• Record: 4-15 (2-14 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. Central Christian (Kan.) – 88-67 – Jan. 20, 2025 – Oklahoma City
• Series vs MACU (2004-): MACU leads 29-13
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 74-62 – Dec. 12, 2024 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: MACU won 4
• Players to Watch:
  • Deondre Dunn – R-SO – G
    • 326 Points (17.2 ppg), 115-269 FG (42.8%), 52-129 3FG (40.3%), 44-57 FT (77.2%), 111 Reb (5.8 rpg), 22 Steals (1.2 spg)
  • Michal Wooldridge – R-SO – F
    • 257 Points (13.5 ppg), 103-231 FG (44.6%), 45-78 FT (57.7%), 139 Reb (7.3 rpg), 22 Assists (1.2 apg)
  • George McCurdy – SR – G
    • 201 Points (10.6 ppg), 65-151 FG (43.0%), 23-60 3 FG (38.3%), 48-66 FT (72.7%), 64 Reb (3.4 rpg), 54 Assists (2.8 apg)
• Team Notes:
  • It has been tough sledding for Southwestern Christian over the last month-and-a-half as the Eagles have lost eight straight heading into Thursday night's game. In a home-away-from-home game against Central Christian inside Abe Lemons Arena on Monday night, SCU struggled to slow down the Tigers in a runaway 88-67 defeat.
  • Southwestern Christian has struggled to generate much offense in SAC play this season as the Eagles rank dead-last at 13^th in scoring offense (62.8 ppg), shooting a league-low 38.7 percent from the field. The Eagles haven't fared much better on the defensive end, holding the 10^th-ranked scoring defense (76.1 ppg) while also ranking 10^th in field goal defense (44.5) and 11^th in three-point percentage defense (34.1).
  • Despite its offenses struggles, MACU will need to lock down a pair of young scoring standouts in redshirt sophomores Deondre Dunn and Michal Wooldridge. Dunn is one of the best scorers in SAC play, ranking seventh in league play at 16.9 ppg while being one of the most dangerous outside threats in the league with the fourth most made triples at 43 at 38.4 percent shooting. Wooldridge has been a strong presence for SCU in the low post, averaging 13.5 ppg on 44.6 percent shooting while leading the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game.
  • Even though Mid-America Christian was able to jump out to a 40-30 halftime lead over the Eagles in their last meeting on Dec. 12, SCU refused to allow MACU to run away with the win. Southwestern Christian was able to keep it to a three-score game for a large bulk of the second half, but the Evangels refused to allow Southwestern Christian to climb closer than seven points in the second half in the 84-72 win. Juwan White and Josiah Fulcher led the MACU charge with 19 points and 17 points, respectively.