The Lowdown: No. 20 Park University vs. No. 14 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Mar. 16 @ 3 p.m.
Location: Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.
Ticket Info: Click HERE or call the NAIA National Office @ 816-595-8142
Live Broadcast: (With a paid subscription, $9.95 for single-day pass, $29.95 for tournament pass)
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The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 14-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels are making their second straight trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, this time under the guidance of first-year head coach Josh Gamblin. The Evangels, the fourth-seed in the Duer Bracket, are hoping to build upon the experience last season that featured a trip to the quarterfinals in their debut appearance.
"We are so excited to be back in Kansas City for the National Tournament," Gamblin said. "We wanted to continue to build off last year's success and getting back there was the biggest part of that."
"Our group has bought in on all levels and has been extremely fun to coach. We are excited for the opportunity to go up against the best NAIA programs in the country."
The Evangels enter the tourney at 23-9 overall and were second in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 12-6 mark.
Nick Tate currently leads the Evangels in both points (16.5 ppg) and rebounds (6.9 rpg), with Devonse Reed second in scoring with 14.9 ppg. Bryon Miller is third in scoring with 12.7 ppg with 73 threes, while Jerrick Massenburge is averaging 12.5 ppg with a team-high 78 makes from beyond the arc. Malcolm Mann has dished out a team-high 160 assists on the season, while Chris Runnels is also scoring in double-figures with 11.5 ppg and has a team-best 53 blocks. Runnels is only two swats away tying the overall school record for blocks in a season. He's already bested his own single-season mark as an NAIA school.
The Dish on the Pirates: The Park University Pirates are 20-9 overall and were third in the American Midwest Conference at 17-5 in the league. The Pirates, the fifth-seed in the Duer Bracket, enter the tourney having won six of their past eight games.
Xavielle Brown is pacing the Pirates this season with 23.1 points per game and is second in rebounding with 7.9 rpg. Mylin Jordan is second in scoring at 16.2 ppg, while Derrick Williams is next with 12.0 ppg along with a team-high 9.6 rpg. BJ Watson is right behind at 11.9 ppg and leads the Pirates with 185 assists on the season.
The Series: This will be the first meeting between the Evangels and Pirates since MACU became an NAIA school in 2007.
Fact of the Century: Under first-year head coach Josh Gamblin, the Evangels have scored 100 or more points on 10 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 9-1 when scoring at least 100 points this season, but have lost all four times they've allowed the opposition to reach the century mark.
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is in his first season as the head coach of the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball program. Gamblin's impact has been immediate, guiding the Evangels to a 23-9 record this season and a second straight NAIA National Tournament berth.
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 Kline is in his 11th season as head coach of the Park University Pirates. Kline has led the Pirates to three NAIA National Tournament appearances with a record of 162-111 at the helm. Prior to arriving at Park, Kline was the head coach for seven seasons at his alma mater, Indiana Tech.
Up Next: With a win, the Evangels will face the survivor of top-seeded Biola University (Calif.) and eighth-seeded Faulkner University (Ala.) Friday morning (Mar. 18) at 10:45 a.m.
