Box Score The Wayland Baptist men overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Mid-America Christian University, 86-81. Five Pioneer players scored in double figures on Thursday night, lead by Robert Curtis and Isaiah Jackson with 17 points each.
Jamie Eisinger added 15, Bobby Watkins put in 13, and George Williams contributed 12. Curtis had a team-high nine rebounds and Eisinger handed out seven assists. Watkins recorded four steals and had seven boards.
WBU had a miserable start to the game, trailing by as much as 17 late in the first half. The Pioneers came back, though, with a 19-6 run over a six-minute period that spanned from the final three minutes of the half through the beginning of the second to narrow the gap to four.
MACU extended its lead back to ten with 13:24 remaining, but the Wayland men rallied once again, finally grabbing the advantage on Eisinger's bucket in the paint that made it 64-63 with just under eight minutes on the clock.
The two teams traded baskets over the next seven and a half minutes. Jackson hit two shots from the charity stripe with 23 seconds left to give the Pioneers a four-point edge, and then Williams and Eisinger nailed the coffin shut, sinking two free throws each in the final 13 seconds.
The Evangels were led by Charlie Shorter with 32 points.
Wayland evens its record up at 8-8 on the season and is 2-6 in conference action. MACU falls to 6-8 and 1-8. The Pioneers face Oklahoma City University, 62-59 losers to Lubbock Christian on Thursday, at Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday at 3 p.m.
