MBB CCCK LU Preview - 2-5-26
Kyle Highfill

Men's Basketball Adam Stanek - MACU Sports Information

Men’s Basketball Prepared for Penultimate Home Tilt against No. 9 Langston, Head to Central Christian

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Basketball team will be seeking to end its four-game home stand on a major high note on Thursday night as the Evangels host No. 9 Langston for Neon Night for an 8 p.m. tip inside the Gaulke Activity Center before heading up to McPherson, Kan. for a 4 p.m. tip against Central Christian on Saturday.
 
SEASON REPORT
  • Record: 16-6 (10-6 SAC)
  • Last Game: Won vs. Southwestern Christian (Okla.) – 90-51 – Feb. 2, 2026 – Gaulke Activity Center
  • Stat Leaders:
  • Team Notes:
    • Mid-America Christian downright dominated Southwestern Christian on both ends of the floor in its penultimate contest in the four-game home stand as the Evangels cruised to a 90-51 victory, their most lopsided win in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
    • In that win, the Evangels continued their incredible shooting in their home venue, going 36-for-66 (54.5 percent) from the field and after shooting an ice cold 1-for-6 (16.7 percent) from three in the first half, MACU came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, going 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from range to finish 42.9 percent overall.
    • After being held scoreless in the last two games, senior guard Clay Baldwin was huge for MACU off the bench, scoring a game-high 19 points on a stellar 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-4 from behind the arc. James Locke also came up big off the bench as well, breaking into double-figures for the first time in nine games with 15 points while shooting 6-of-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from three-point range.
    • With the Evangels sitting sixth in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings with three weeks left to go, MACU will have the opportunity to gain some ground on the pack by facing four of the top five sides during that stretch.
SCOUTING REPORT
Langston (Okla.)
  • Record: 17-4 (12-3 SAC)
  • Last Game: Won at Southwestern Christian – 73-52 – Jan. 31, 2026 – Bethany, Okla.
  • Series vs MACU (2013-): MACU leads 14-8
  • Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 69-65 – Dec. 6, 2025 – Oklahoma City (Paycom Center)
  • Series Streak: MACU won 1
  • Players to Watch:
    • Orlando Thomas – SR – G
      • 312 Points (14.9 ppg), 89-203 FG (43.8%), 41-86 3FG (47.7%), 93-121 FT (76.9%), 103 Reb (4.9 rpg), 25 Assists (1.2 apg), 21 Steals (1.0 spg)
    • Antonio Lewis – SR – G
      • 147 Points (12.3 ppg), 48-118 FG (40.7%), 33-77 3FG (42.9%), 18-24 FT (75.0%), 29 Reb (2.4 rpg), 14 Steals (1.2 spg)
    • Omar Henry – JR – F
      • 198 Points (9.9 ppg), 72-142 FG (50.7%), 50-61 FT (82.0%), 101 Reb (5.0 rpg), 10 Blocks (0.5 bpg)
  • Team Notes:
    • Langston enters Thursday's contest sitting a game out of first place in the SAC and much like the Evangels, are coming off a dominant 73-52 win at Southwestern Christian last Saturday.
    • Under the leadership of head coach Chris Wright, the Lions possess a strong defensive mentality, leading the NAIA in points allowed per game (60.0) while ranking second only behind MACU in field goal defense (40.6) and second in three-point defense (31.0). Even though Langston ranks only ninth in scoring offense (73.6), the Lions are a team that controls a slower pace, posting the third-most efficient offense (46.2 percent) while boasting the highest three-point percentage (35.6) in the league.
    • Overall, the Lions are a balanced team on the offensive end with Orlando Thomas leading the offensive efforts, averaging 14.9 ppg on a solid 43.8 percent shooting with an even more brilliant 47.7 percent from three-point range, the highest rate in the SAC. Antonio Lewis after missing some significant time in November has been a key piece for the Lions the last few months, averaging 12.3 ppg while also shooting a blistering 42.9 percent from downtown.
    • Mid-America Christian will be seeking its first regular season sweep over the Lions since the 2021-22 season after the Evangels defeated Langston inside the Paycom Center on Dec. 6. In that 69-65 win, Morris Williams came up massive for MACU, scoring 22 points while going 5-for-6 from three-point range. Overall, four Evangels finished in double-figures with Shannon Strickland (14), Zander Baker (12), and Clance Crosby (11) getting involved on the offensive end.
Central Christian (Kan.)
  • Record: 9-12 (4-11 SAC)
  • Last Game: Lost at Oklahoma City – 81-63 – Jan. 31, 2026 – Oklahoma City
  • Series vs MACU (2003-): MACU leads 20-3
  • Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 83-75 – Dec. 4, 2025 – Gaulke Activity Center
  • Series Streak: MACU won 1
  • Players to Watch:
    • Chris Whitten – SR – G
      • 449 Points (21.4 ppg), 150-329 FG (45.6%), 38-127 3FG (29.9%), 111-135 FT (82.2%), 90 Reb (4.3 rpg), 30 Assists (1.4 apg), 27 Steals (1.3 spg)
    • Jevarrick Butler – GR – G
      • 267 Points (13.3 ppg), 88-218 FG (40.4%), 37-99 3FG (37.4%), 54-72 FT (75.0%), 111 Reb (5.5 rpg), 37 Assists (1.9 apg), 43 Steals (2.1 spg)
    • Jaeden Whitten – JR – G
      • 226 Points (10.8 ppg), 91-174 FG (52.3%), 42-55 FT (76.4%), 78 Reb (3.7 rpg), 35 Assists (1.7 apg), 20 Steals (1.0 spg)
  • Team Notes:
    • Central Christian is coming off a tough month of January where the Tigers posted just a 2-6 record. However, the Tigers were pretty strong at home in that month, going 2-1 inside Jerry Alexander Arena.
    • Offensively, the Tigers rank in the middle of the pack in the SAC, averaging the seventh-most points per game (74.8) while boasting the fourth-best field goal percentage (45.9), but the second-worst three-point percentage (32.0). The Tigers also rank in the middle defensively, sixth in scoring defense (74.4) but are allowing the third-highest field goal percentage (45.0), while posting the sixth-ranked three-point clip (33.8).
    • The Evangels will need to look for ways to shut down senior guard Chris Whitten, who enters the week as the league's second-most proficient scorer, averaging 21.4 ppg while shooting a solid 45.6 percent from the field and is a magnet for the foul line, going 111-for-35 (82.2 percent) on his free throw tries. Jevarrick Butler and Jaeden Whitten are two other players that can make strong contributions on the offensive end for CCCK while Butler is also an elite defender who ranks second in the SAC in total steals (43).
    • Mid-America Christian will be looking to play a full 40 minutes of basketball against Central Christian the second time around after the Evangels came away with an 83-75 win inside the Gaulke on Dec. 4. In that win, MACU took a massive 51-27 lead into the half, but the Tigers outpaced the Evangels in the second half, cutting their lead down to as little as seven with 6:50 to go. However, MACU held firm the rest of the way, not allowing CCCK to climb any closer for the 83-75 victory. In that win, five Evangels scored in double-figures.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Zander Baker

#11 Zander Baker

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Shannon Strickland

#1 Shannon Strickland

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Morris Williams

#10 Morris Williams

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Junior
James Locke

#0 James Locke

G
6' 3"
Senior
Demerius Shakur

#4 Demerius Shakur

G
6' 5"
Junior
Clay Baldwin

#5 Clay Baldwin

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Clance Crosby

#23 Clance Crosby

F
6' 9"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Zander Baker

#11 Zander Baker

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Shannon Strickland

#1 Shannon Strickland

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
G
Morris Williams

#10 Morris Williams

6' 8"
Redshirt Junior
F
James Locke

#0 James Locke

6' 3"
Senior
G
Demerius Shakur

#4 Demerius Shakur

6' 5"
Junior
G
Clay Baldwin

#5 Clay Baldwin

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
G
Clance Crosby

#23 Clance Crosby

6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
F