The Lowdown: Philander Smith College at No. 1 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Oct. 28 @ 7 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
Ring Ceremony Tonight at 6:30!
Starting at 6:30 p.m. tonight, the Evangels will honored and presented with their NAIA National Championship rings. The official NAIA National Championship banner will also be unveiled shortly after.
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 1-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels opened the season on a positive note with a 109-85 victory over the Manhattan Christian College Thunder on Tuesday evening (Oct. 25).
The Evangels never trailed and got going early, scoring the first 11 points of the game before jumping ahead 19-4 on threes by Devonse Reed and Robert Romero.
MACU continued to pull away and built the lead to 36-12 behind two straight threes by Devante Moore.
With the lead at 19, treys from Jordan Rhodes and Malcolm Mann fueled an 11-0 spurt that extended the lead to 30 at 55-25 and the Evangels went on to a 55-29 at the break.
After the Thunder trimmed the lead to 17 within the first five minutes of the second half, four straight points from Reed capped an 8-0 spurt that pushed the lead back to 68-43 at the 13:51 mark.
The Evangels never looked back from there and twice built the lead to a game-high 35 points, with the last time coming on a three by Will Brewer that made it 109-74 with 1:53 remaining.
Playing in his first career game, Tyler Chaisson led six Evangels in double-figures with 18 points.
Moore scored a career-high 17 points, with Reed and Romero each scoring 16. The Evangels also got 10 points each from Ex'Zavia Seaton and Olajuwon Garner.
Brewer led the Evangels (1-0) with a career-best seven rebounds. Keyshawn Perkins recorded a team-high six assists and Mann added five dimes.
The Dish on the Panthers: The Philander College Panthers compete out of the Gulf South Conference and were 14-16 overall last season, with a 6-5 conference record. The Panthers' leading returning scorer from last season is Chris Ward, who scored 13.2 ppg along with a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game.
The Series: MACU and Philander Smith split their two meetings last year, with each squad winning at home. It was the first two matchups between the schools since the Evangels joined the NAIA.
Best in the Land: The defending NAIA National Champion Mid-America Christian University Evangels will begin the year in the same spot they ended last season, as the Evangels are ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll for the first time in school history, the organization released last night (Oct. 25).
"We're humbled and honored to be picked first in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll," MACU head coach Josh Gamblin said.
"But we know it's only a preseason ranking and has no relevance to this season. We still have to come out every night and play the game the right way, knowing everyone will take their best shot at us."
The Coaches:
In his first season at the helm of the Mid-America Christian University Evangel men's basketball program, head coach Josh Gamblin made a historic, immediate impact. Gamblin guided the Evangels to their first-ever NAIA National Championship, capping off the memorable title run with a thrilling, 100-99 overtime victory over then No. 1-ranked Georgetown (Ky.). In the process, Gamblin become the youngest coach (27 years old) in college basketball history to win a national championship at a four-year institution.
Following the championship triumph, Gamblin was named the 2015-16 Rawlings-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. His character influence was also felt throughout the year, culminating with the program receiving the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Sportsmanship award at the conclusion of the NAIA National Tournament.
Overall, Gamblin is 29-9 at the helm of the Evangels.
Recently, Gamblin had the privilege of speaking at the Nike Championship Basketball Clinic on the campus of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. Gamblin presented the topic "Covering the Pick and Roll" to attendees and was joined by other premier coaches and players from around the U.S., including coaches Lon Kruger and Sherri Coale from the University of Oklahoma and retired NBA center Swen Nater.
Gamblin came 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 one-year old son Miles.
Todd Day is in his first season at the helm of Philander Smith College. For the past 10 years, Day has coached at the High School, AAU and semi-pro level.
Day played college basketball at the University of Arkansas under coach Nolan Richardson, helping the Razorbacks advance to the Final Four as a sophomore. He was also a John Wooden First-Team All-America performer during his junior and senior season. Day was picked eighth overall in the first round of the NBA Draft in 1992 by the Milwaukee Bucks and also played for the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Up Next: The Evangels will host an exhibition game against NCAA D-II member Southwestern Oklahoma State University next Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5) at 3 p.m.
