The Lowdown: Kansas Christian College at No. 1 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Nov. 22 @ 2 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 1-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels are currently 4-1 this season, coming off a thrilling 105-100 double-overtime victory over Haskell Indian Nations University last Friday evening (Nov. 18). Haskell wasn't done pushing Sooner Athletic Conference squads, as it nearly upset No. 18-ranked Oklahoma City University before falling 65-64 on Saturday (Nov. 19).
With Haskell leading 98-96, Ex'Zavia Seaton put in his ninth point of the second overtime session to tie the score before Robert Romero hit a go-ahead three with 46 seconds left that finally gave the Evangels a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Indians weren't quite done though as T'salidi Seqouia scored on a putback inside that made it a one-point game with 21 seconds left.
But Olajuwon Garner, who hit big shots all night in scoring a career-high 30 points, hit two critical free throws that was followed by two more at the charity stripe by Devante Moore with five seconds left to put away the win for the Evangels.
Garner leads the Evangels in scoring this season with 17.2 ppg and has also hit a team-high 15 threes.
Other Evangels averaging double-figure scoring are: Devonse Reed (14.2 ppg), Tyler Chaisson (14.0 ppg), Robert Romero (12.8 ppg), Ex'Zavia Seaton (10.4 ppg) and Malcolm Mann (10.0 ppg).
Seaton is leading the Evangels with 9.4 rebounds per game and Mann has dished out a team-high 38 assists on the season.
Mann's 7.3 assists per game is tied for first in the Sooner Athletic Conference and Seaton is third in the SAC in rebounding.
The Dish on the Falcons: The Kansas Christian College Falcons are fielding their first men's basketball team in more than a decade.
The Series: This will be the first-ever meeting between MACU and KCC.
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 32-10 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.
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.
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.
Jay Jenkins is in his first season as head coach of the Kansas Christian College Falcons, guiding the school's first team in more than a decade. Jenkins previously served as the head coach of Bethany Christian Academy High School, where he led a team that was coming off an 0-11 season to an 11-win playoff squad in his first year at the helm.
Up Next: The Evangels will compete in the Northern New Mexico Classic on Nov. 25-26. MACU will face Northern New Mexico on Nov. 25 and then the University of the Southwest on Nov. 26.
The Evangels will then return home and host Wiley College on Nov. 29 at 7 pm inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
