The Lowdown: John Brown University @ No. 21 Mid-America Christian University
Time: Jan. 28 @ 5 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The No. 21-ranked Mid-America Christian University Evangels concluded their four-game road swing with a 98-62 setback at Southwestern Christian University last night (Jan. 26) in Bethany, Okla.
The Evangels are now 13-8 overall with a 4-5 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Olajuwon Garner leads the Evangels in scoring (15.8 ppg) and is first in both the SAC and NAIA with 3.7 threes per game this season. He is also first in the SAC and ninth in the NAIA in three-point percentage (.500).
Devonse Reed is second in scoring with 14.1 ppg and Tyler Chaisson is at 13.0 ppg. Ex'Zavia Seaton is also scoring 9.6 ppg along with a team-high 8.5 rebounds a game. Malcolm Mann is second in the SAC and eighth in the NAIA with 5.3 assists per game.
Also, Seaton is first in the SAC and sixth in the NAIA in defensive rebounds per game (7.29).
As a team, the Evangels are all over the map in the NAIA rankings. MACU is tops in scoring offense per game (93.4 ppg), second in threes per game (10.9), fourth in defensive rebounds per game (32.7) and sixth in the categories of free-throw percentage (.749), total rebounds per game (43.2) and assists per game (18.9).
The Dish on the Golden Eagles: The John Brown University Golden Eagles are 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the SAC, but have won their last two games over St. Gregory's University and Bacone College.
Jake Caudle leads JBU in both scoring (12.3 ppg) and threes (53), followed by Zach English with 11.4 ppg. Ricky Roberts is averaging 10.8 ppg and has recorded a team-best 43 assists. Miguel Martinez has a team-high 4.3 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.
As a unit, the Golden Eagles are eighth in the NAIA in total rebound defense (31.2) and ninth in three-point percentage (.398).
The Series: The Evangels are now 9-9 against JBU after sweeping the season last year for the second consecutive year. MACU is 5-4 at home vs. the Golden Eagles.
Home Cooking: MACU is set to play at home for the first time since Jan. 12 following a four-game road swing. The Evangels will be glad to return to the friendly confines of the Gaulke Activity Center, where they are 9-3 this season.
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is his second season as head coach of the Mid-America Christian University men's basketball program.
In his first season at the helm, 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 41-17 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.
Jason Beschta is in his third season as head coach of the John Brown University Golden Eagles following a three-year tenure at the helm of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. In his third season, Beschta led OKWU to a regular season co-championship in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and an at-large berth to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
Up Next: The Evangels will play at No. 12-ranked Texas Wesleyan University next Thursday night (Feb. 2) at 8 pm in Ft. Worth, Texas.
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