Pioneers run away with first-ever SAC Tourney title - Mar 8, 2015

Wayland Baptist not only won its first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference Men's Tournament championship, the Pioneers ran away with it.
No. 13 Wayland shot 63 percent from the field en route to posting a dominating 94-60 victory over 14th-ranked Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Saturday afternoon at Abe Lemons Arena.
Up by just four, 37-33, late in the first half, Wayland outscored MACU 25-2 over the next eight minutes and effectively put the game out of reach with 14 minutes still left on the clock, leading 62-35.
The Pioneers (27-5) went on to lead by as many as 37 points.
The win sends Wayland into the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championships, to be played March 18-24 in Kansas City, as the SAC champion. MACU (22-10) likely will receive an at-large bid.
On Saturday, five players scored in double-figures for Wayland, led by Robert Waters (6'0''-PG) with 21 and Ta'Quan McDew (6'4''-G) with 18. Both were red-hot with Waters hitting 8-of-11 (73 percent) from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and McDew 9-of-13 (69 percent). McDew also collected 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Waters had a team-high six assists.
Royal Crouch (6'4''-F) added 16 points, Plamen Hristov (6'4''-F/G-91) 15, Bunja Yaboe (6'9''-F/C-86) 12 and Jacob Lancaster (6'11''-F-93) eight.
The Pioneers made 39-of-62 from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, and 10-of-15 free throws. Wayland shot 63 percent in both halves.
The Evangels, who shot 32 percent (22-of-69) overall and 29 percent (7-of-24) from long range, were led by Reggie Davis (6'3''-G) with 12 points and Semar Farris (5'5''-PG) with 11.
Wayland had 39 rebounds and just nine turnovers, compared to MACU's 34 boards and 13 giveaways.
Crouch was named tournament MVP while McDew, Waters and Yaboe were all-tournament, along with Davis and R.J. McGhee (6'6''-F) of Oklahoma City. Farris received the Hustle Award.
The championship game was delayed some 15 minutes when the lights at OCU's Abe Lemons Arena went out at halftime.

SAC Tournament Final: Wayland Baptist - Mid-America Christian 94-60
SAC Tournament Semifinals:
Wayland Baptist - Oklahoma City 77-62
Mid-America Christian - Assemblies of God 98-92, OT

Courtesy of Wayland Baptist