The Lowdown: John Brown University @ (RV) Mid-America Christian University
Time: Jan. 7 @ 8 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Evangels are now 10-3 overall and 0-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference following a 103-64 rout of Haskell Indian Nations University on Tuesday night (Jan. 5). It marks the fastest the Evangels have reached double-digit victories since joining the NAIA in 2007. The Evangels got double-digit scoring from five players, led by 15 points each from Reed and Massenburge. Massenburge also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Miller and Nick Tate each scored 11 and Devante Moore added 10 points. Malcolm Mann dished out a game-high seven assists for MACU. As a team, MACU shot a solid 54.1 percent (33-of-61) overall from the floor, including a season-high 60 percent (15-of-25) from three-point distance.
Devonse Reed leads the Evangels in scoring at 17.3 ppg, followed by Nick Tate's 16.8 ppg and team-high 6.6 rebounds per game. Jerrick Massenburge is scoring 12.5 ppg, while Bryon Miller averages 11.6 ppg along with a team-best 28 threes on the season. Chris Runnels is also averaging double-figure scoring with 10 ppg and leads the team with 30 blocks. Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-best 66 assists this season.
Runnels ranks fifth in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.5 bpg) and Mann is 10th in assist/turnover ratio (4.1).
As a team, the Evangels are eighth in the NAIA in turnover margin (4.5) and ninth in both scoring offense per game (92.4 ppg)) and eighth in threes per game (9.9).
The Dish on the Golden Eagles: The John Brown University Golden Eagles are .500 overall at 7-7 with a 0-2 mark in the SAC. JBU has won two of their past three games, including an 82-67 triumph at The Master's (Calif.) in their last outing on Dec. 30.
Ricky Roberts is pacing the Golden Eagles in scoring this season with 16.8 ppg, followed closely by Luke Moyer's 16.6 ppg. Moyer also leads JBU with 45 assists on the season. Griffin Brady is third in scoring at 15.8 ppg and is recording a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game. Nate Anderson has swatted a team-best 39 shots this season.
The Golden Eagles are fifth in the NAIA in free-throw percentage (.753) and eighth in blocks per game (4.5 bpg). JBU also ranks 10th in field-goal percentage defense (.391).
Anderson's 39 blocks are second in the NAIA and Moyer is eighth in threes (42).
The Series: The Evangels are now 7-9 against JBU since joining the NAIA after sweeping the season series last year. MACU defeated the Golden Eagles 74-67 here before winning 84-74 in Siloam Springs, Ark. The Evangels are 4-4 at home vs. JBU as an NAIA school.
Fact of the Century: Under first-year head coach Josh Gamblin, the Evangels have scored 100 or more points on eight 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 7-1 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.
Get That Out of Here: The matchup between the Evangels and Golden Eagles will feature two of the nation's leading shot-blockers. JBU's Nate Anderson is fourth in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.7 bpg), while the Evangels' Chris Runnels is fifth (2.5 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 a 10-3 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.
Jason Beschta is in his second season as head coach of the John Brown University Golden Eagles following a three-year tenure at the helm of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. In his third season, Beschta led OKWU to a regular season co-championship in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and an at-large berth to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
Up Next: The Evangels will continue their three-game homestand with a showdown against No. 17-ranked Wayland Baptist University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 9). Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
