OMAHA, Neb. – Back in Baxter Arena for the first time since opening day, the Mavericks kicked off a three-game homestand with a 76-59 win over Mid-America Christian on Wednesday.
Omaha improves to 3-4 on the season with two games left in the homestand. Meanwhile, the Evangels remain 3-1 as today’s game goes down as an exhibition for them, though, this will be their second loss of the season against Division I opponents.
Leaders for Omaha
Grant Stubblefield had his best game yet as he scored a team-high 14 points after shooting a perfect 6-for-6 with two three-pointers. Omaha’s leading rebounder Marquel Sutton was a board short of earning his first double-double of the season as he shot 5-for-12 and totaled 13 points. He also had the team’s only block of the day and two steals. Frankie Fidler had another high-volume day from the stripe going 7-for-10 and tying JJ White for the team-lead with three assists.
Leaders for Mid-America Christian
Eddie Smith and Mikel Henderson scored almost half of MACU’s points with 15 and 14, respectively. Smith also had the most three-pointers on the team with three and steals with five, while Henderson had the most free throws after going 6-for-6. Meanwhile, DeAngelo Adkins had MACU’s most rebounds with six,
Team Stats
Omaha outshot MACU on field goals (25-for-52, 48.1% vs. 19-for-51, 37.3%) and 3-PT FGs (10-for-21, 47.6% vs. 10-for-27, 37.0%). The Mavericks’ FG% is their second highest of the season, while their 3-point% is their highest mark yet.
Omaha’s bench also had another productive day, scoring 25 points.
Inside the First Half
After an opening dunk from MACU’s Adkins, the Mavericks proceeded to score 11 unanswered over the next three minutes. Sutton led the way with a layup and two free throws, while Tony Osburn made his first three of the day at 18:30. Later on, a three from Jungers at 12:46 would give Omaha its largest lead yet at 20-10.
The Evangels would fight back to within two points as the Mavericks would not score again until 6:59, when Fidler’s first basket from deep made it 23-18. In the end, the Mavericks would take a 36-30 into halftime Sutton and Jaeden Marshall each made a layup and an and-one round out scoring for Omaha.
Inside the Second Half
With his only points in the first half coming off a late three, Stubblefield settled in to lead Omaha’s second-half offense with 11 points, scoring his second three-pointer just two minutes in before recording eight points in just over two and a half minutes from 7:21-3:45.
Meanwhile, Marcel Bryant scored his lone bucket of the day at 13:21 to make it a 10-point game again. White’s second 3-PT FG would keep the lead at 10, before pulling down a defensive board and tossing it to Sutton for the dunk at 10:18 to make it 57-43. Jamal Ambrose would score his first basket of the day with just under two minutes remaining to give Omaha its largest lead at 76-58.
Game Notes
– Osburn made his first start of the season today, playing 23 minutes and making a pair of threes.
– This was the second time this year that at least 10 Mavericks recorded a point, with the first instance being vs. Doane.
– Davis now has a team-best four games this season with at least six total rebounds after pulling down eight.
Up Next
Following the holiday weekend, the Mavericks return to the court next Monday at 7:35 when they host York at Baxter Arena.
UNO Men take down Mid-America Christian
