FORT WORTH, Texas.  – The MACU Men's basketball team was unable to overcome Texas Wesleyan in a low-scoring affaire inside the Sid Richardson Center Saturday afternoon. MACU was able to limit the outside perimeter shooting for the Rams to just 11 percent (2-of-17) but shot a season low in the process on 21-of-67 (31.3 percent) from the field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Juwan White – 14 Points, 6-19 FG, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl
• Josiah Fulcher – 12 Points, 5-10 FG, 4 Reb
• Magok Manyang – 11 Points, 3-10 FG, 7 Reb

GAME SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Mid-America Christian (10-4, 6-4 SAC) opened up its scoring after Tarrence Gaines spotted a wide open Magok Manyang in the corner behind to cut Texas Wesleyan's (10-4, 6-4 SAC) lead to 4-3 2:07 into the contest.
  • Juwan White provided the Evangels with the first lead of the game up 13-12 on a spot up three from the right elbow with 13:53 remaining.
  • The ensuing bucket went to the Rams on Trey Sinegal's lay-up, but Morris Williams grabbed the lead right back on a corner three on Josiah Fulcher's feed putting MACU up 16-14.
  • After retaking the lead, the Evangels went cold from the field going scoreless for the next five minutes and 33 seconds allowing TXWES to go on a 10-2 run in the process taking a 24-18 advantage.
  • The Evangels struck for an 8-3 surge in the last 1:22 kicked off on a trey from Manyang and finished off on back-to-back slams from Fulcher with White providing an assist on both dunks.
• Second Half
  • Both teams went bucket-for-bucket over the first five minutes of the half with the Evangels tying it up at 39-39 on Keeshawn Mason's turnaround lay with 14:36 to go.
  • Following Mason's lay, Fulcher drilled a step-back three from the top of the arc to give MACU its largest lead of the day up 42-39.
  • The Rams however responded in a big way, coming through with a 10-2 run led by Sinegal and Montez Young Jr. who combined for all 10 of the points putting TXWES up 49-44 with 8:43 left.
  • Five of the next seven points went in favor of MACU to cut the lead to 51-49 after Manyang made one of two at the charity stripe. Texas Wesleyan once again answered back with an 8-2 edge to climb back up to a 59-51 advantage with 3:12 to go.
  • Both teams stood tough defensively with the Evangels narrowly outscoring the Rams 3-1 making it a two-possession game at a 60-54 score with 1:07 remaining on a layup by Quentin Woodson.
  • Time was of the essence for Mid-America Christian and there was simply not enough of it, as MACU was forced to intentionally foul allowing the Rams to score seven of their last nine from the free throw line, outscoring MACU 9-4 in the process to run away with a 69-58 victory.

GAME NOTES

• Mid-America Christian shot a season low 31.3 percent on 21-of-67 shooting, it was an overall struggle from all aspects shooting wise as the Evangels went 8-for-21 at the free throw line, (38.1 percent). Texas Wesleyan finished the contest 26-of-55 from the field (47.3 percent) despite going just 2-of-18 from three-point land.
• TXWES had the upper hand-in boards with a plus 11 advantage outrebounding MACU 46-35 as well as a 36-26 ratio on points inside the paint.   
• Juwan White led the scoring for the Evangels with 14 points on 6-of-19 from the floor he also added seven boards.
• Even if the Evangels forced overtime, it would have been a tough task with Josiah Fulcher fouling out late in the second half, Fulcher finished with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting with four rebounds.
• 58 points scored ranks the lowest in a matchup all season for Mid-America Christian, however on the defensive end it marked the seventh straight game the Evangels have held an opponent under 70 points.
• With the defeat Texas Wesleyan snapped a six-game losing streak to the Evangels dating back to Jan. 27, 2022.

 
UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will return to the Gaulke Activity Center next Thursday night as they will host Oklahoma Panhandle State with a tip-off slated for 8 p.m.