KANSAS CITY – Moments after the Mid-America Christian University Evangels captured their first-ever NAIA National Championship, MACU head coach Josh Gamblin and junior guard Devonse Reed each garnered a prestigious award from the NAIA.

In his first season at the helm, Gamblin was named the 2015-16 Rawlings-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, while Reed earned the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award for the tourney.

As a program, the Evangels also received the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Sportsmanship award last night (Mar. 22).

Gamblin, who just turned 27 years old, became the youngest head coach to win a men's basketball national championship at any four-year level college.

"We have really good players with very good kids and two great assistant coaches, so this is really about them," Gamblin said.

"The administration has been great and the program has been built well. We had a bad taste in our mouth from the conference tournament and we won a bunch of good, tough games in KC."

Reed was the Evangels' offensive catalyst throughout the tournament, averaging 24.4 points per game in the five victories, including a career-best 30 point effort in the semifinal win over Campbellsville (Ky.) and then a team-high 25 points last night in the national championship win over No. 1-ranked Georgetown (Ky.)

"Throughout this tournament, it's about helping my teammates," Reed said. "I know they have my back and I do my best to have their back."

The Evangels ended the season not only with their first NAIA national title in hand, but with a 28-9 overall record, their most wins since joining the NAIA in 2007.