The Lowdown: (RV) Langston University @ No. 10 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 10-ranked and defending Sooner Athletic Conference regular season champion Mid-America Christian University Evangels are 2-1 this season heading into tonight's game against Langston University. Under first-year head coach Josh Gamblin, the Evangels opened the season with victories over Haskell Indian Nations University and at Bethany College (Kan.) before being tripped up at No. 21-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Devonse Reed is the Evangels' leading scorer through three games at 21.3 ppg, followed by Jerrick Massenburge with 17.7 ppg. Nick Tate is averaging 15.3 ppg and has a team-high 10 rebounds per game. Bryon Miller (10.7 ppg) and Exzavia Seaton (10.3 ppg) are also scoring in double-figures, while Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-best 17 assists on the season.
The Dish on the Lions: The Langston University Lions, out of the Red River Conference, lost their season-opener to Sooner Athletic Conference member USAO on Nov. 3, 75-74. Langston led 40-34 at the half but was outscored 41-34 in the second stanza. The Lions received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason coaches' poll and was picked tied for third in the preseason Red River Conference coaches' poll.
The Series: The Evangels have won both meetings against Langston since joining the NAIA. MACU won at home over the Lions 89-79 in the 2013-14 season and then defeated LU 77-66 on the road last year.
Getting it started right: After defeating Haskell Indian Nations University to kick off the 2015-16 season, the Evangels have now won their last eight season openers and are 9-1 overall beginning the season since joining the NAIA.
High Expectations: The Evangels were picked to finish tied for second in the preseason SAC Coaches' poll released last week. MACU, the defending SAC regular season champion, was tied for the second spot with Wayland Baptist University. It represents the highest the Evangels have been tabbed in the poll since becoming an NAIA and SAC member in 2007.
The Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions received seven of nine first-place votes to take the top spot. The Lions are coming off a 22-11 record last season with an NAIA National Championship tournament appearance.
John Brown University and Texas Wesleyan University round out the top five, with the remainder of the poll being Oklahoma City University, USAO, Southwestern Christian University, St. Gregory's University and Bacone College.
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is in his first season as the head coach of the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball program. Gamblin replaces Willie Holley, who retired after 42 years and 813 career victories at the helm.
Gamblin comes to MACU from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a Graduate Assistant Coach under Head Coach Lon Kruger. There he assisted in all practices and logged scout games. Gamblin also worked with coaches on opponent scouting reports for a squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season.
"We really appreciate all of Josh's assistance during his time with the Sooners and I know he'll do a fantastic job," Kruger said. "MACU is lucky to have him."
Prior to arriving at OU, Gamblin served two-years at Southwestern Christian University (SCU) as lead Assistant Coach on Head Coach Quinn Wooldridge's staff. Gamblin's duties at SCU involved recruiting, leading film sessions and analyzing opponent's scouting reports.
During the 2011-12 basketball season, Gamblin worked in the NBA as the Intern Video Coordinator for the Los Angeles Clippers under then-Head Coach Vinny Del Negro. Gamblin helped prepare pre-game scouting reports for the Clippers, as well as logging all opponent games and being involved in coaches meetings. His efforts with the Clippers led to the best winning percentage in team history.
"Josh has worked at the highest level and continually strives to learn and become a better coach each day," Del Negro said. "He is constantly working to improve his craft and striving for excellence is everything he does."
Off the court, Gamblin has served as Clippers' All-Star Forward Blake Griffin's Summer Basketball Trainer for the past three seasons. Gamblin helped Griffin prepare for upcoming basketball seasons by working on a number of offensive and defensive drills—specifically pick and roll coverages, low post moves and ball handling drills.
Gamblin's collegiate-athlete experience includes, but not limited to: competed at SCU on the Men's Basketball team from 2007-11; Varsity Captain (twice); named SCU Male Newcomer of the Year in 2008; and selected as Team MVP for the 2011 season. Additional honors include: Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) Honorable-Mention All-America honors in 2010; a Midlands Collegiate Athletic All-Conference selection in 2011; and named "Mr. Southwestern" in 2011, (awarded to the student who exemplifies the values, traditions and spirit of SCU). After the 2011 season, Gamblin received the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete award.
He graduated from SCU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and is currently enrolled in the IAA Master's program at the University of Oklahoma.
Gamblin and his wife Jennifer live in Oklahoma City with their infant son Miles.
Stan Holt had NCAA D-I coaching experience prior to taking over the program at Langston University, including serving on the staff at USC and helping with the development of players such as Toronto Raptor's All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, forward Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson.
Up Next: The Evangels will next play a highly-touted exhibition game Thursday night (Nov. 12) at the No. 8-ranked (NCAA D-I) University of Oklahoma Sooners before coming home to host Bethany College on Friday night (Nov. 13) and No. 20-ranked Philander Smith College Saturday evening (Nov. 14).
