The Lowdown: No. 14 Mid-America Christian University vs. No. 21 University of the Cumberlands
Time: Mar. 19 @ Noon
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 and fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian University Evangels found a way into the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the second straight season by snapping the No. 3-ranked and top-seeded Biola University Eagles' NAIA-best 11-game winning streak 88-80 today (Mar. 18). The Evangels started strong and withstood a rally by the Eagles with timely buckets and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.
"We knew Biola was going to be a huge challenge and I thought we came out with a lot of energy and obviously we were making a lot of shots, which makes it easier," said MACU head coach Josh Gamblin.
"I thought our guys did a really good job fighting on the boards. (Biola) is so physical and so strong, I thought we scrapped and got on the floor and won some 50/50 balls."
Devonse Reed led the Evangels with a game-high 27 points and a career-best 11-of-16 at the charity stripe. Bryon Miller scored 21 and Jerrick Massenburge added 17. Nick Tate had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds and a team-high four assists.
The Evangels are now 25-9 overall, with the 25 wins tying a school-record (as an NAIA school) set during last season's quarterfinal run.
Tate currently leads the Evangels in both points (16.1 ppg) and rebounds (6.8 rpg), with Reed second in scoring with 15.5 ppg. Miller is third in scoring with 13.3 ppg and has hit 80 threes, while Jerrick Massenburge is averaging 12.3 ppg with a team-high 83 makes from beyond the arc. Mann has dished out a team-high 170 assists on the season, while Runnels is also scoring in double-figures with 11.3 ppg and has a team-best 55 blocks.
The Dish on the Patriots: The No. 21-ranked and sixth-seeded University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots are 24-11 overall and have won nine of their past 11 games. The Patriots advanced to the NAIA quarterfinal round with an overtime win over third-seeded Langston University and an 82-80 upset of second-seeded Talladega College.
Xavier Owens leads the Patriots in both points (14.8 ppg) and assists (85). D'Lando Carter is second in scoring with 12.5 ppg, with Tre Boutilier averaging a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game.
The Series: This will be the first matchup between the Evangels and Patriots since MACU became an NAIA school in 2007.
Common Opposition: The only common opponent the Evangels have this season with the University of the Cumberlands is Langston University. MACU bested Langston twice this season and the Patriots knocked off LU in overtime in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament.
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 25-9 record this season and a second straight NAIA National Tournament quarterfinal appearance.
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.
Donnie Butcher is in his 16th season at the helm of the University of the Cumberlands Patriots. Butcher is a three-time Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year and has now guided the Patriots to the NAIA National Tournament 11 times.
Up Next: With a win, the Evangels will make their first-ever NAIA Final Fab Four appearance on Monday evening (Mar. 21) at 6 p.m.
