OKLAHOMA CITY – MACU Men's Basketball explode in the second half for 51 points in a dominant season-opening performance with an 88-67 win over Florida College on Saturday night inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
SCORE

• (RV) Mid-America Christian 88, Florida College 67
  • Mid-America Christian (1-0)
  • Florida College (0-2)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Morris Williams – 16 Points, 6-10 FG, 3-4 3FG, 7 Reb, 2 Assists, 1 Block
• Taiden Conner – 12 Points, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 5-6 FT, 8 Reb, 6 Off Reb
• Shannon Strickland – 10 Points, 3-9 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6 Reb 5 Assists

GAME SUMMARY

• First Half
  • MACU and FC started strong defensively with physicality proving to be a point of emphasis for both teams as personal fouls racked up. Crosby scored six straight for the Evangels before Taiden Conner chipped in a pair from the free throw line to extend MACU's lead to 9-2.
  • The Evangels hit foul trouble early, forcing Coach Gamblin into his bench as more free throws from the Falcons brought the score to a one-point game at 13-12, halfway through the opening period. However, a monstrous slam from Morris Williams lit up the fans inside the Gaulke Activity Center to spark a MACU run.
  • Williams took the lid off the basket from deep with eight minutes remaining as both teams were yet to see a three pointer fall. Shannon Strickland added a three of his own two minutes later as the Evangels led 25-18.
  • Mid-America Christian closed the final 3:46 on a 10-1 run through consecutive layups from Clay Baldwin, and an electrifying four-point play from Cooper to give him 10 first-half points to lead all scorers. MACU took a 37-24 score into the halftime break.
• Second Half
  • The MACU offense quickly started the second half as the smooth jump shot of Morris Williams sparked the first bucket. While a pair of triples from Strickland and Williams forced a timeout from the Falcons as the Evangels led 45-24 two minutes into the half.
  • Both teams exchanged baskets approaching the halfway point of the second half, before a six-point Evangel run gave MACU its largest lead of the game. A tough and-1 finish from Demerius Shakur took the lead to 64-38.
  • With 7:10 on the clock, Crosby took the roof off the Gaulke Activity Center which erupted from his put-back dunk off the missed three-point attempt to give MACU a 71-46 advantage.
  • Williams knocked down a corner three with four minutes to play to give him a game high 16 points, while stretching the lead to 27. The Evangels and Falcons looked to their bench for the final three minutes of action, as MACU closed out its season-opener with an 88-67 win.

GAME NOTES

• MACU was efficient from the field finishing 31-62 (50%), while pouring in 10 of 32 from behind the arc (31.3%). The Evangels got to the line 20 times and converted for 16.
• The Falcons struggled offensively shooting 19-57 (33.3%) from the field, 8-35 (22.9%) from 3-pt land, but stayed aggressive off the dribble to force fouls shooting 27 free throws cashing in 21.
• The Evangels dominated the glass outrebounding the Falcons 43-31, but a closer margin in offensive rebounds at 14-11.
• Florida College held the slight edge in turnovers at a 10-9 margin, but five blocks from the Evangels to the Falcons one dominated the defensive paint.
• Four Evangels reached double-digit scoring as Morris Williams led with 16 points, Taiden Conner chipped in 12, Clay Baldwin contributed 11, and Shannon Strickland poured in 10.
• Conner finished the leading rebounder for MACU with eight boards, six coming on the offensive glass. Williams was right behind him with seven. Strickland led distribution with five assists.
• Mid-America Christian only trailed once in the game at 1-0 a minute into the contest but fully controlled from the start with its largest lead climbing to 27.
• This was the first all-time meeting between MACU and FC, as the Evangels take a 1-0 all-time record over the Falcons.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian stay at home to face Ozark Christian (Mo.) Thursday evening on Oct. 30 for a 5 pm tipoff inside the Gaulke Activity Center.