Plainview, TX – Wayland Baptist and Mid-America Christian entered Monday's game with identical conference records of 16-7 and the game turned out to be just as close. MACU held their largest lead of the game, 16-8, with 12:30 remaining in the first half. The Pioneers tied the game at 16-all with 10:07 left in the half. There were six lead changes in the remainder of the first half and the score was tied at 30 with 1:49 remaining when Wayland went on a 6-2 run to take a 36-32 lead into halftime.
Three consecutive three pointers by
Niko Noumeros and another by
Joshua Tucker gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the game, 48-34, with 16:38 left to play. The Pioneers held on to the lead, but the Evangels kept chipping away, cutting the lead to two points on three different occasions. Wayland went scoreless over the last 2:22 of the game and MACU hit a three pointer with two seconds remaining to win the game 69-68.
Three Pioneers scored in double figures with
Kabine Kaba leading the way with 13 points off the bench, along with a team high 6 rebounds.
Quenton Coleman and
Niko Noumeros tossed in 10 points each. Noumeros also contributed five rebounds, four steals and two assists. Coleman added four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
James Lee and
Dylan McDougal each scored 8 points. Lee also had a team high five assists along with three rebounds and a steal. McDougal added a rebound and a steal.
Jaxon Recer scored 7 points along with three rebounds and two assists.
Brett Leach scored 6 points, going 2 for 4 from the three-point line.
Joshua Tucker and
Alex Rojas added 3 points each.
The Pioneers honored eight seniors/graduate students on this Senior Night, all of whom will receive degrees in May. Players who were honored are, in numerical order are
James Lee,
Alex Rojas,
Quenton Coleman,
Joshua Tucker,
Jaxon Recer and
Niko Noumeros. Also recognized were Devin Acosta, the director of Creative Content and Graduate Assistant Isaac Meenan.
The Pioneers will host a first round Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament game Thursday, February 27 at 8:00 PM, when they welcome John Brown University to the Hutcherson Center.
