The Lowdown: No. 19 Oklahoma City University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: Feb. 25 @ 5 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Evangels are now 15-14 overall and 6-11 in the Sooner Athletic Conference following a hard-fought 50-49 loss at St. Gregory's University Thursday night (Feb. 23).
The Evangels rallied back from as many as 13 points down in the second half to tie the score at 49-49 with 23 seconds left.
With under five seconds remaining, Rodney Smith was fouled, missed the first but hit the second to give the Cavaliers a one-point lead.
The Evangels then had one last chance, but a three point attempt from Olajuwon Garner in the final seconds was off the mark.
Garner leads the Evangels in scoring (15.4 ppg) and is first in the SAC and third in the NAIA with 3.52 threes per game this season. He also leads the SAC in three-point percentage (.472).
Devonse Reed is second in scoring with 13.7 ppg and Tyler Chaisson is third at 10.9 ppg. Ex'Zavia Seaton is pulling down a team-high 8.5 rebounds a game, while Malcolm Mann is second in the SAC and 10th in the NAIA with 4.9 assists per game.
Seaton's rebounds per game is third in the SAC and he is also tops in the league and fourth in the NAIA in defensive rebounds per game (7.24).
As a team, the Evangels are all over the map in the NAIA rankings. MACU is tops in threes per game (10.6), fifth in defensive rebounds per game (31.1), sixth in scoring offense per game (88.1), seventh in assists per game (17.7) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.740).
The Dish on the Stars: The No. 19-ranked Oklahoma City University Stars are 19-8 overall and tied for fourth in the SAC with a 10-7 league mark after falling 75-58 at home to No. 21 Southwestern Assemblies of God University Thursday night (Feb. 23).
Prior to suffering an injury, Terence Bonhomme was leading the Stars with 17.2 ppg in 13 games. Xavier Smith is scoring 15.3 ppg along with a team-high 9.1 rebounds for the Stars, while Lou Dunbar is averaging 14.7 ppg. Tyler Alderman is also scoring in double-figures at 10.7 ppg and Jonathan Reed leads OCU with 86 assists on the season.
Smith is third in the NAIA in blocks per game (2.5) and ninth in defensive rebounds per game (6.7). Dunbar is also ninth in threes per game (2.88).
OCU is also third as a team in the NAIA in blocks per game (5.1).
The Series: The Evangels have split the 20 meetings with the Stars since becoming an NAIA school. MACU swept the season series last year, but OCU captured the first matchup this season, 100-90 at home. The Evangels are 4-5 vs. OCU inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
SAC Tournament Scenarios: To qualify for the SAC Postseason tournament, the Evangels need a win over OCU along with a St. Gregory's loss at No. 21 SAGU. MACU and SGU are tied in the SAC standings, but the Cavaliers own the tiebreaker due to sweeping the two meetings this season from the Evangels.
The Coaches:
Josh Gamblin is in 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 43-23 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.
Vinay Patel is in his second season as head coach at Oklahoma City University following a one-year stint as assistant coach at Rogers State University last season. Prior to that, Patel had been the interim coach at West Texas A&M University. In his first season at OCU, Patel led the Stars to a 15-11 overall mark and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
Up Next: The Evangels play in the SAC Tournament, provided they defeat OCU and St. Gregory's falls at SAGU. If that doesn't play out, the Evangels will gear up for the NCCAA Central Regional tourney.
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