OKLAHOMA CITY - The Sooner Athletic Conference released its 2018-19 men's basketball preseason coaches' poll on Thursday afternoon, and the Mid-America Christian University Evangels find themselves picked near the middle of the pack in the league.

MACU totalled 68 points in the voting process, sliding into the 7th spot in the poll, just two points behind SAC newcomer Langston University.

Oklahoma City University narrowly edged out Texas Wesleyan University by a single point for the top spot in the poll. OCU and Texas Wesleyan both finished 14-6 in conference play to split the SAC regular-season title a year ago.

Five SAC teams – plus new league member Langston – qualified for the NAIA Division I Tournament last year. Oklahoma City, Science & Arts of Oklahoma, Southwestern Assemblies of God, Texas Wesleyan and Wayland Baptist competed in the NAIA Tournament. Southwestern Assemblies of God won the SAC Tournament 90-81 over Wayland Baptist.

Oklahoma City earned 107 total points along with five first-place votes, while Texas Wesleyan had 106 points and four first-place votes. SAGU earned two first-place votes, while USAO had the remaining one.

SAGU was picked to finish third with 102 points, while Wayland was picked fourth with 94 points. USAO was fifth with 80, and Langston was sixth with 70.

Mid-American Christian checked in at seventh with 68 points, while John Brown was eighth with 56 points. Southwestern Christian and Central Christian followed in ninth and 10th with 54 and 31 points, respectively.

Rounding out the preseason poll was Oklahoma Panhandle State with 24 points and Bacone with 11 points.

MACU will open up their season - the fourth under head coach Josh Gamblin - at the Gaulke Activity Center on October 26 against Manhattan Christian College. The Evangels recently announced a new season ticket plan, the deatils of which can be found here. Tip-off of the season opener is slated for 8 p.m.