OKLAHOMA CITY – The defending NAIA National Champion Mid-America Christian University Evangels have been picked first in the Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball preseason poll, the league announced today (Oct. 18).

It's the first time in school history the Evangels have garnered the top spot in the poll after finishing tied for second in the survey last season.

The Evangels, under second-year head coach Josh Gamblin, finished second in the league last season with a 12-6 conference mark.

"It's a great honor and extremely humbling to be picked first in our preseason rankings," Gamblin said. 

"The SAC is full of great teams and fantastic coaches.  We will be marked men and our guys will have to understand the type of responsibility that comes with that.  I love our group of kids and am excited for the challenge that awaits us!"

MACU received six first-place votes, followed by second-place Oklahoma City University, who got two first-place nods.

Texas Wesleyan University, last year's SAC regular season champion, got one first-place tally to come in third, followed by Southwestern Assemblies of God University in the fourth spot.

USAO rounded out the top five and received the other first-place vote.

Southwestern Christian University was sixth, with Wayland Baptist University, John Brown University, St. Gregory's University and Bacone College rounding out the poll.

The Evangels will open the season on Oct. 25 at home against Manhattan Christian College.