OKLAHOMA CITY --- Wayland Baptist men's basketball battled through a challenging road test but came up short in a 79–66 loss to Mid-America Christian on Thursday night at the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Pioneers (10-4, 4-4) faced an early uphill climb as MACU opened the game with strong shooting and interior play, building a 43–27 advantage by halftime. Wayland struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening period, shooting 34.6 percent from the field, while Mid-America Christian capitalized on second-chance opportunities and transition baskets to create separation.
Despite the deficit, Wayland responded with a much improved second half. The Pioneers outscored the Evangels 39–36 after the break and showed resilience on both ends of the floor.
Jamari Lawrence led the offensive surge, finishing with a game-high 23 points while knocking down five three-pointers. Lawrence was especially effective in the second half, scoring 19 points as Wayland worked to chip away at the margin.
Rico Yarbrough added 15 points and a team-best 11 rebounds, recording a strong all-around performance inside.
Chuks Ejiofor contributed eight points, while
Jordan Logan and
Damonze Woods each provided key minutes off the bench as Wayland looked to spark momentum during several second-half runs.
Mid-America Christian maintained control throughout the contest, answering Wayland's pushes with timely baskets and free throws down the stretch. The Evangels finished shooting 46.7 percent from the field and were led by Clance Crosby's 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Wayland finished the night shooting 39 percent overall and held a slight edge on the glass with 37 rebounds, but early turnovers and first-half shooting struggles proved difficult to overcome. Still, the Pioneers' second half response reflected their competitiveness and determination as conference play continues.
The Pioneers will look to regroup on Saturday, January 10
th, when they travel to Chickasha, Oklahoma to take on the Drovers of Science & Arts. The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 4:00 PM.
