MOORE, OK - The University of the Southwest Men's Basketball team fell to 2017 NAIA DI National Champion Mid-America Christian Evangels on the road 105-71 on November 3rd.
The Mustangs fell behind early in the 1st half, 9-0 but slowly climbed back in the game with a 14-5 run and lead 14-13 at the 10:04 mark. The Evangels went on a 8-0 run of their own, but the Mustangs climbed back to within seven with 3:15 remaining in the first half with the score 27-20. A 3-point field goal by
Ron'Quis Lewis was the last points the Mustangs would make in the 1st half as the Evangels went on 11-3 run to go into halftime leading 38-23.
The Evangels forced USW into 12 turnovers in the 1st half while only committing 4, the difference however was at the free throw line where the evangels shot 17 free throws in the first half compared to 0 for USW. MACU shot 35.3% from the field, while USW shot 32.3% from the field and out-rebounded MACU 25-22 in the 1st half.
The 2nd half started with a turnover by USW and the lead grew as high 21 points before USW called a timeout. The Mustangs then went on a 7-0 run to cut the MACU lead to 14 points with 12:48 remaining before a series of player fouls, and a bench technical foul, expanded the lead to back to 20 points. The mustangs could never get any closer the rest of the way, falling to MACU by a score of 105-71.
MACU shot 48% for the game and 32% from beyond the arc, and forced USW into 21 turnovers for the game. MACU also shot 41 free throws, while USW only shot 11 free throws, all in the 2nd half. USW shot 40% for the game and 39% from beyond the arc, but the difference in the game was Free Throws as the Evangels scored 34 points from the line on 34-41 (83%) shooting.
High Scorers for the Mustangs were
Ron'Quis Lewis with 13 points and 6 rebounds, and
Emmanuel McNeil with 8 points and 11 rebounds. All 12 players that played for the Mustangs each scored in the game.
"I thought that we were ready to play tonight, and was I really surprised at turnovers we had in the first half" said Men's Basketball head coach
Timm Dixon, "MACU came out ready to play, and hit big shots when they needed too. We are struggling to find a rhythm offensively, but I thought the fellas came out and did really well with some mid-game adjustments in the second half on offense. If we take care of the basketball, we will be a very hard team to beat, this season."
The loss moves USW to 1-2 overall on the season, while MACU moves to 3-0. The next game for the Mustangs will be on the road November 5th against University Sciences and Arts Oklahoma (USAO) who lost to Benedictine (KS) by a score of 82-54 and is 0-1 on the year.
The Mustangs are in a midst of a 9 game road stretch, and will return home for the first time this season on November 19th with a rematch against USAO.
