The Lowdown: Bacone College @ No. 7 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Jan. 28 @ 8 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: Just hours after climbing to their highest NAIA national ranking in school history, the seventh-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels saw their school-best (as an NAIA school) eight-game winning streak come to an end in heartbreaking fashion, 95-93 at USAO Tuesday night (Jan. 26).
The Evangels had possession in the final seconds with a chance to tie or win it, but came up empty as USAO held on for the win.
MACU held an 11 point lead with 7:53 remaining when Taran Buie fueled a run of 17 straight for the Drovers with 10 points, including eight at the charity stripe to suddenly put USAO on top 90-84 with 3:56 left.
It remained a six-point deficit for the Evangels but Devonse Reed hit consecutive layups to make it a two-point game at the 2:11 mark.
After Reed misfired on a three-point attempt that would have given the Evangels the lead, David Tucker scored to put USAO back in front by four with 23 seconds left.
The Evangels weren't through yet and clawed within one on a three by Bryon Miller with 15 seconds left.
Following a foul, the Drovers' Myron Taylor split two free throws to give MACU a chance, but the Evangels couldn't get a shot to fall as time expired.
Miller scored a team-high 24 points to lead the Evangels (16-4, 6-2 SAC) and tied his career-high with five threes. Reed and Jerrick Massenburge each scored 13 points and Nick Tate added 11. Jason Nwisienyi also scored in double-figures with 10 points and Malcolm Mann dished out a game-high eight assists.
Nick Tate currently leads the Evangels in both points (17.2 ppg) and rebounds (7.4 rpg), with Devonse Reed second in scoring with 15.9 ppg. Jerrick Massenburge is scoring 13.2 ppg, while Bryon Miller averages 12.8 ppg along with a team-high 49 threes on the season. Chris Runnels is also averaging double-figure scoring with 10.3 ppg and leads the team with 40 blocks. Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-best 111 assists this year.
Also, Runnels ranks sixth in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.1 bpg) and Mann is also sixth in assists per game (5.8 apg).
As a team, the Evangels are fifth in the NAIA in assists per game (17.9) and sixth in both scoring offense per game (92.5) and turnover margin (4.5).
The Dish on the Warriors: The Bacone College Warriors have lost 13 straight games and are 1-18 overall and 0-8 in the SAC.
Brandon Chatman is the Warriors' high-scorer with 16.6 ppg, followed by Geo Brewer with 15.5 ppg. Corey Swift is scoring 10.9 ppg and leads the Warriors with 5.6 rebounds per game.
The Series: The Evangels are 2-1 vs. SAC newcomer Bacone College since joining the NAIA. The Evangels won their lone home game against the Warriors, 111-73 in the 2013-14 season.
Fact of the Century: Under first-year head coach Josh Gamblin, the Evangels have scored 100 or more points on nine 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 8-1 thus far when scoring at least 100 points this season. On the flip side, the Evangels are 0-3 when allowing the opposition to score 100 points.
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is in his first season as the head coach of the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball program. Gamblin's impact has been immediate, guiding the Evangels to a 16-4 record thus far and has the Evangels ranked tied for seventh in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' poll, their highest NAIA ranking in school history.
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.
Alan Foster is the head coach of the Bacone College Warriors.
Up Next: The seventh-ranked Evangels will gear up for an NAIA Top 25 showdown when they host No. 12-ranked Texas Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 30) at 5 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center. The two schools are currently tied atop the SAC standings with identical 6-2 conference records.
