The Lowdown: Texas Wesleyan University at No. 1 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Dec. 1 @ 8 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 fell to 7-2 on the season following a tough 78-76 loss to Wiley College (Texas) on Tuesday (Nov. 29). Wiley scored with 4.8 seconds left to snap the gridlock and then held off the Evangels for the win.
Garner leads the Evangels in scoring this season with 18.6 ppg and has also hit a team-high 36 threes. He is tied for first in the Sooner Athletic Conference and second in the NAIA in threes per game (4.0).
Tyler Chaisson is second in scoring with 15.2 ppg and fourth in the NAIA in field-goal percentage (.699). Devonse Reed follows at 12.5 ppg and Robert Romero is also scoring in double-figures with 10.0 ppg.
Ex'Zavia Seaton leads the Evangels with 7.9 rebounds per game, while ranking sixth in the NAIA in defensive rebounds per game (7.0). Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-high 52 assists this season and ranks second in the SAC and sixth in the NAIA in assists per game (5.8 apg.
As a team, the Evangels are all over the NAIA leaderboard. MACU currently ranks third in defensive rebounds per game (35.1), fifth in both free-throw percentage (.769) and scoring offense per game (100.1 ppg), sixth in threes per game (10.6) and seventh in assists per game (20.4 apg).
The Dish on the Rams: Like the Evangels, the No. 20-ranked Texas Wesleyan University Rams are also coming off a loss to Wiley, 70-61 at home on Monday night (Nov. 28). It was the first setback for the Rams, who are currently 7-1 on the season.
Dion Rogers is leading the Rams with 17.4 ppg, with Ryan Harris right behind at 16.9 ppg. Najeal Young is third in scoring at 13.9 ppg and Trevon Jeffrey is scoring 11.1 ppg.
Young and Jeffrey are also each averaging a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game, with Young ranking ninth in the NAIA in field-goal percentage (.627). Naiel Smith is leading the way with 48 assists this season for the Rams and is also first in the NAIA in assists per game (6.8 apg).
The Rams are fifth in the NAIA as a team in offensive rebounds per game (16.0).
The Series: The Evangels are 4-2 in the series since Texas Wesleyan joined the SAC in the 2013-14 season. MACU won the first four meetings, but the Rams swept the season series last year.
Dropping Dimes: If you're looking for an assist during the holiday season, tonight's matchup between the Evangels and Rams is a good place to start. It'll showcase two of the top assist leaders in the NAIA, with the Rams' Naiel Smith leading in assists per game (6.8 apg) and Malcolm Mann ranking sixth (5.8 apg).
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 35-11 as head coach 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.
Brennen Shingleton is in his fifth season at the helm of Texas Wesleyan University following a 10-year tenure as an assistant coach and later as an associate head coach at TWU. Last season, Shingleton was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Rams to a SAC regular season championship and an NAIA National Tournament berth.
Up Next: MACU will host Bacone College in another SAC matchup Saturday evening (Dec. 3) at 5 pm.
