OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Basketball team will head down to Waxahachie, Texas for a marquee matchup against Sooner Athletic Conference leader No. 8 Nelson for an 8 p.m. tip-off inside the Sheaffer Center before returning home for Senior Day Saturday slated for a 4 p.m. tip inside the Gaulke Activity Center.

At the conclusion of the women's game, the Evangels will honor their seven graduating seniors: James Locke, Shannon Strickland, Clay Baldwin, Jabez Williamson, Luke Beddow, Clance Crosby, and Ronnie Lopez.
 
SEASON REPORT

• Record: 17-7 (11-7 SAC)
• Last Game: Won at Central Christian – 73-69 – Feb. 7, 2026 – McPherson, Kan.
• Stat Leaders:
  • Points: Morris Williams (392, 16.3 ppg), Shannon Strickland (247, 10.3 ppg)
  • FG Percentage (%, M-A; Min 3 FGM/G): Clance Crosby (66.9, 83-124), Morris Williams (51.1, 134-262)
  • 3FG Percentage (%, M-A; Min 1 3FGM/G): Shannon Strickland (45.2, 33-73), Morris Williams (42.7, 47-110)
  • FT Percentage (%, M-A; Min 2 FTM/G): Shannon Strickland (82.8, 48-58), Morris Williams (79.4, 77-97)
  • Rebounds: Clance Crosby (126, 5.3 rpg), Morris Williams (126, 5.3 rpg)
  • Assists: Shannon Strickland (51, 2.1 apg), Zander Baker (43, 1.8 apg)
  • Steals: Zander Baker (35, 1.5 spg), Morris Williams (30, 1.3 spg)
  • Blocks: Clance Crosby (19, 0.8 bpg), Two Tied (8)
• Team Notes:
  • Facing a must-win situation on the road at Central Christian last Saturday, Mid-America Christian picked up a much needed 73-69 win against the Tigers. In the victory, Corey Skillman came up big for the Evangels, making two clutch shots in the final minute, including the shot clock beating turnaround jumper with eight seconds left to make it a two-possession game.
  • The Evangels continue to be a team that shows incredible balance across the board. Offensively, six different players are averaging 7.5 or more points per game with only two players scoring in double-figures while MACU also continues to be balanced on the glass as well. Clance Crosby and Morris Williams lead the team at 5.3 rpg while six players are averaging at least 3.0 per contest.
  • Entering the penultimate week of the regular season, the Evangels also continue to be one of the best defensive teams in the NAIA. Overall, MACU ranks ninth in the entire NAIA in opponent field goal percentage (40.1) and 16^th in points allowed per game (68.9).
  • While MACU's chances of winning the SAC this year are unlikely as Nelson holds a four-game lead with four games left, these next four games will be crucial for MACU when it comes to SAC Tournament seeding as five teams sit within three games of each other with four games left. The Evangels are only two games out from seizing one of the top four seeds in this year's tourney.

SCOUTING REPORT
Nelson (Texas)

• Record: 20-4 (15-3 SAC)
• Last Game: Won at Southwestern Christian – 85-79 – Feb. 7, 2026 – Bethany, Okla.
• Series vs MACU (2005-): MACU leads 18-15
• Last Game vs MACU: Nelson won 81-67 – Jan. 15, 2026 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: Nelson won 1
• Players to Watch:
  • Micah Clark – SR – F
    • 546 Points (22.8 ppg), 209-426 FG (49.1%), 61-171 3FG (35.7%), 67-116 FT (57.8%), 157 Reb (6.5 rpg), 31 Assists (1.3 apg), 34 Steals (1.4 spg), 12 Blocks (0.5 bpg)
  • Jesse Iweze – SR – F
    • 285 Points (11.9 ppg), 90-168 FG (53.6%), 94-140 FT (67.1%), 164 Reb (6.8 rpg), 36 Assists (1.5 apg), 26 Steals (1.1 spg), 40 Blocks (1.7 bpg)
  • Trelin Green – JR – G
    • 259 Points (10.8 ppg), 81-203 FG (39.9%), 81-102 FT (79.4%), 66 Reb (2.8 rpg), 163 Assists (6.8 apg), 57 Steals (2.4 spg)
• Team Notes:
  • Nelson had to overcome some tough adversity at Southwestern Christian last Saturday as the Eagles were looking to spring an upset over the current SAC leaders, leading by as much as eight with 8:49 remaining in the contest. However, the Lions battled back, outscoring SCU 23-7 over the final eight-and-a-half minutes to pull out the 85-79 road win.
  • The Lions have continuously been one of the most high-octane offenses in the league, leading the SAC at 88.1 ppg, ranking 12^th in the entire NAIA. However, the Lions are a team that prefers a high shot volume as they rank third in field goal percentage (46.3) while attempting the second-most shots in the conference (1598) and fourth in three-point percentage (35.0). One area the Lions have struggled in this season is taking advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line, converting the third-worst percentage in the league (68.1).
  • Even though Nelson is giving up the third-most points in the SAC (79.7), it is fundamentally sound on the defensive end, holding their opposition to the third-lowest field goal percentage (41.0) and sixth-worst three-point percentage (34.1).
  • The Evangels will need to try and find an answer for one of the league's most dynamic scorers in Micah Clark. The senior forward leads the SAC at 22.8 ppg while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range. Senior forward Jesse Iweze is also a senior forward who is dynamic on both ends of the floor, averaging 11.9 ppg while leading the conference in blocked shots (40) and ranks fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Junior guard Trelin Green is also a dynamic point guard that leads the SAC in both assists (163) and steals (57) while also chipping in 10.8 ppg.
  • In their last meeting inside the Gaulke back on Jan. 15, the Evangels were ice cold in the first half, shooting 29.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range before finding themselves down 43-28 at the half. While MACU was able to come out and play a much better second half, the Evangels could do little to cut into the Nelson lead as the Lions held on for the 82-68 win.

Texas Wesleyan

• Record: 18-5 (14-4 SAC)
• Last Game: Won at Oklahoma City – 83-74 – Feb. 7, 2026 – Oklahoma City
• Series vs MACU (2013-): MACU leads 17-10
• Last Game vs MACU: TXWES won 69-64 – Jan. 17, 2026 – Fort Worth, Texas
• Series Streak: TXWES won 1
• Players to Watch:
  • Daylan Hamilton – SR – G
    • 340 Points (14.8 ppg), 117-281 FG (41.6%), 46-131 3FG (35.1%), 60-89 FT (67.4%), 115 Reb (5.0 rpg), 38 Assists (1.7 apg), 34 Steals (1.5 spg)
  • Montez Young Jr. – GR – F
    • 315 Points (14.3 ppg), 138-252 FG (54.8%), 28-54 FT (51.9%), 179 Reb (8.1 rpg), 28 Assists (1.3 apg), 33 Steals (1.5 spg), 13 Blocks (0.6 bpg)
  • Khalil Turner – SR – G/F
    • 305 Points (13.3 ppg), 104-262 FG (39.7%), 31-107 3FG (29.0%), 66-102 FT (64.7%), 155 Reb (6.7 rpg), 52 Assists (2.3 apg), 31 Steals (1.3 spg), 21 Blocks (0.9 bpg)
• Team Notes:
  • Texas Wesleyan enters the week as one of the hottest teams in the SAC. Ever since losing an 82-74 decision to Nelson back on Jan. 12, the Rams have won eight straight games and sit in a tie for second in the league standings with No. 9 Langston with a 14-4 league mark.
  • Much like the Evangels, the Rams are a team that prides themselves on defense, holding their opponents to the second-lowest scoring average (68.4 ppg). However, one area the opposition has been able to take advantage of TXWES is from behind the arc as the Rams are allowing the third-highest three-point percentage in the SAC (35.0). Offensively, Texas Wesleyan hasn't been one of the more proficient offenses as the Rams rank seventh in the conference in scoring (75.3), ninth in field goal percentage (44.2), and second-to-last in three-point percentage (32.1).
  • An area the Rams do excel in is dominating the glass, ranking fourth in the SAC in rebounding ranking fourth in rebounding margin (5.4) while the defense is forcing the third-most turnovers in the league (15.3).
  • The Rams feature a four-headed scoring attack with Daylan Hamilton, Montez Young Jr, Khalil Turner, and Matt Nero all averaging in double-figures this season for the Rams with Hamilton leading the charge at 14.8 ppg. Meanwhile, Young Jr. is by far and away the SAC's most proficient rebounder, averaging 8.1 boards per contest, 0.7 better than the next best boarder.
  • The last time the two teams squared off on Jan. 17 in Fort Worth, Texas, the Evangels gave the Rams a tough test as TXWES had to grind out a 69-64 win on its home court, marking it the closest win the Rams have at home this season.