The Lowdown: No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene University @ (RV) Mid-America Christian University
Time: Dec. 18 @ 7 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Evangels enter tomorrow night's game at 8-3 overall and 0-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference following a 106-99 setback last Saturday (Dec. 12) at Philander Smith College. The Evangels have now lost two straight following a six-game winning streak.
Nick Tate leads the Evangels in both scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg) this season. Devonse Reed is second in scoring (16.9 ppg), followed by Jerrick Massenburge with 12.3 ppg. Bryon Miller is averaging 11.6 ppg and has nailed a team-high 23 threes. Chris Runnels is also scoring in double-figures with 10.2 ppg while blocking a team-best 23 shots and ranking second on the team with 6.4 rpg. Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-leading 55 assists on the season.
Runnels ranks eighth in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.3 bpg) and Mann is 10th in assists per game (5.5 apg).
As a team, the Evangels are sixth in the NAIA in scoring offense per game (96.2) and eighth in threes per game (9.7).
The Dish on the Pioneers:
The MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers are led in scoring by Jordan Whelan at 15.8 ppg. Justin Randall is second in scoring with 13.5 ppg and leads MNU in rebounds (6.1 rpg) and blocks (25). Gabriel Jordan is scoring 13.1 ppg, while Nick Syrie averages 12.5 ppg along with a team-high 88 assists. Jonas Page also scores in double-figures with 10.3 ppg.
Syrie's 88 assists is tops overall in the NAIA and Randall's 25 blocks on the season ranks fifth.
The Pioneers are first in the NAIA in assists per game (23.5 apg) and second in defensive rebounds per game (34). MNU is also fourth in the NAIA in both assist/turnover ratio (1.447) and field-goal percentage (.530), fifth in field-goal percentage defense (.372), seventh in blocks per game (4.7), eighth in three-point field-goal percentage (.399), ninth in scoring offense per game (93.8) and 10th in total blocks (52).
The Series: The Pioneers defeated the Evangels 105-89 earlier this season (11/2) in the first meeting between the two schools since MACU became an NAIA school in 2007.
Fact of the Century: Under first-year head coach Josh Gamblin, the Evangels have scored 100 or more points on six occasions this year, already more than any other season since joining the NAIA. In fact, the Evangels had only reached the century mark 11 times in the eight combined prior seasons as an NAIA school. MACU is 5-1 thus far when scoring at least 100 points this season. On the flip side, the Evangels are 0-2 when allowing the opposition to score 100 points.
Dishing and Swatting: Tomorrow's game between the Evangels and Pioneers will feature two of the top 10 assist and block leaders in the NAIA. Nick Syrie leads the NAIA in assists per game (8.0 apg) while the Evangels' Malcolm Mann is 10th (5.5 apg). Also, MACU's Chris Runnels is eighth in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.3 bpg) and Justin Randall of MNU ranks ninth (2.7 bpg).
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is in his first season as the head coach of the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball program and has the Evangels off to an 8-3 start. 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.
Rocky Lamar has been head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University since 1986 and has guided the Pioneers to 12 conference championships and 17 NAIA National Tournament appearances, including a national championship in 2007. Lamar, an NAIA Hall of Fame inductee in 2014, has also led MNU to at least 20 wins in 22 of the last 26 seasons.
Up Next: The Evangels will next play at Haskell Indian Nations University on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in Lawrence, Kan. MACU won the first matchup over Haskell 103-72 in the season opener back on Oct. 27.
