MACU News
 
Sat, Jan 14, 2012 - [Men's Basketball]
Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Charlie Shorter scored a team-high 24 points and Camilo Valencia hit six critical free throws down the stretch to help the Mid-America Christian University Evangels hold on for a 90-88 victory over the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals in Sooner Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14) at the Gaulke Activity Center. 
 
It proved to be as much of a nail-biter as possible in a game that saw no ties or lead changes.   
 
George Haynes put the Evangels up 2-0 with the first basket of the game and the Chaps never tied the score or took the lead from that point, but still made the Evangels sweat out the final seconds down the stretch. 
 
The Evangels led by as many as 10 in the second half and by eight at 81-73 on a jumper by Shorter with 3:33 left.
 
Two buckets by Rashad Sample sparked a 9-1 surge by the Chaps that cut the lead to 81-80 at the 1:33 mark. 
 
After missing the past five games with an injury, Valencia stepped up to the charity stripe and made two free throws and then nailed two more freebies after a defensive stop that gave the Evangels a five-point advantage with 47 seconds left. 
 
The Chaps weren't through yet as Sample drove the lane for consecutive layups sandwiched around a pair of free throws by George Haynes that made it a one possession game at 87-84 with 17 seconds remaining.
 
It was again Valencia that made two more at the line to give the Evangels a two possession lead, but a three by Douglas Williams brought LCU to within a single point at 89-88 with four seconds left.
 
Cameron Langster then split a pair at the line and the Chaps, with no timeouts left, failed to get off a shot to beat the buzzer. 
 
Shorter's 24 points came on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from the beyond the arc.  Shorter also tied for team-high honors along with Darius Gregory with six rebounds.  Brandon Williams added 17 points and led the Evangels with six assists.  Langster scored 14 and Valencia chipped in with 12 points and five assists. 
 
Sample recorded game-highs of 30 points and eight assists to lead the Chaps.  Anthony Brancato had 18 points and Williams added 17 and a game-high eight boards.
 
After both teams struggled shooting from the field in the opening half, each side found things much easier offensively in the second half.  The Evangels shot a red-hot 63.3 percent (19-of-30) from the floor in the second, while the Chaps warmed up to a 57.1 percent (20-of-35) clip after halftime. 
 
The Chaps (8-8, 4-5 SAC) edged the Evangels on the boards, 39-35 overall and 11-8 on the offensive glass. 
 
MACU will remain at home and host USAO on Thursday night (Jan. 19) at 8 p.m.  USAO squeaked by the Evangels 95-89 in the first meeting this season in Chickasha, Okla.