DALLAS, TX- UNTD men's basketball's late run not enough to overcome the Mid America Christian Evangels in this Sooner Athletic Conference match-up, as the Trailblazers fall to the Evangels 72-65.

In this evenly matched conference contest, the Trailblazers, (5-9, 4-7) and the Evangels (12-5, 8-3) from the get-go went back and forth in scoring  behind the play of junior Vernon Johnson and senior Tariq Aman fro UNTD and Seth Hurd and Eddie Smith for MACU. Though both UNTD and MACU started strong in the the first half, the Evangels took a 36-28 advantage to the locker room after shooting 60% from the field and going 4-6 from behind the arc. The Trailblazers, though, still in the game only shot 38% from the field and going 1-8 from the 3-point line. 

In the second half, the Trailblazers and Evangels continued to battle, though at one point in the second half, MACU extended their lead to as much as 13 points at the 15:13 mark, but UNTD going on a 9-0 run got it within 2 with 7 minutes to go in the game and a Kanntrell Burney 3 point basket tied the game 58-58 and with a Tariq Aman steal, the Trailblazers took a 60-58 lead with 5:47 to go in the game.  The comeback was short-lived, however, as the Trailblazers only scored 2 points in the final 3:26 of the game to fall short 72-65.

Nine different Trailblazers scored in the loss, but Vernon Johnson and Kanntrell Burney led the Trailblazers in most of the offensive categories. Johnson finished with 20 points on shooting 7-10 from the field also hauling a team-high 9 rebounds in 40 minutes of play. Burney had a strong second half finishing with 17 points, shooting 7-17 from the floor in 29 minutes of play.

Herd and Smith continued to lead the Evangels scoring 16 and 22 points, respectfully.

The Trailblazers are back home for their next conference contest as they take on the Rams of Texas Wesleyan on Thursday, January 25th. Tip-off is set for approximately 7:45pm at Trinity Basin.