Oklahoma City, Okla. -- The Mid-America Christian University Evangels have been chosen ninth in the Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches poll, the league released today. 

The Evangels finished ninth in the conference last year after also being picked ninth in the preseason poll, narrowly missing out on a SAC postseason tournament berth. 

Two-time defending SAC regular season tournament champion Oklahoma Baptist University, a team MACU defeated on the road last season, was picked to win the conference for the third straight season. 

The OBU Bison received six of twelve first-place votes and was followed by Rogers State with four first-place tallies. 

Southern Nazarene came in third and Oklahoma Christian was fourth, with each school receiving a first-place vote. 

Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the top-five, followed by John Brown, Oklahoma City and USAO. 

After MACU in the ninth spot was Lubbock Christian, Wayland Baptist and St. Gregory's concluding the 12 team poll. 

The Evangels are looking to make more strides in the SAC this season with the return of eight veterans, along with six highly touted newcomers. 

MACU will open the 2011-12 campaign at the Southwestern Christian University Classic on Nov. 4-5 against Bacone College (Okla.) and Bethany College (Kan.) in Bethany, Okla.