Upcoming
Game
The Evangel Crusaders will travel to Topeka, KS, to face the Ichabods
of Washburn University on Nov. 26. Game time is 7 p.m. in Lee Arena.
Records
Evangel is 2-1 overall. The Crusaders began their season on Nov. 12
at College of the Ozarks and won 81-68. Ryan Luethy led EU with 18 points.
Grant Curtis added 17, Andy Truesdale scored 14 and Matt Dyal came off
the bench to tally 10 points. Anthony Moore totaled six points, a team-high
eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Evangel and Central
Bible College then co-hosted the Ozarks Food Harvest Classic on Nov.
15-16. On Nov. 15, Evangel won at home versus Bethel (Ind.), 86-79.
Luethy and Bert Capel each scored 18 points. Moore had 17 points and
led EU's rebounding with eight caroms. On Nov. 16, at Central Bible,
Evangel fell 59-57 to Columbia (Mo.). Dyal scored 15 points and had
six rebounds off the bench. Moore and Bert Capel each contributed 12
points. Moore led all leapers with a career-high 13 rebounds.
Washburn begins its season on Saturday, Nov. 23, at home against Baker
University. Game time is 7:30. The Ichabods split their two preseason
exhibition games. On Nov. 8, Washburn defeated Dawson's Travel All-Stars
at home, 100-83. On Nov. 12, Washburn lost at the University of Kansas,
101-66. Last season, Washburn finished 20-8 and tied for third place
in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (12-6).
Preseason Polls
Evangel is ranked No. 9 on the NAIA Division II preseason poll and was
picked to finish second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference
by the league coaches.
Washburn is ranked No. 15 in the nation on the National Association
of Basketball Coaches/Div. II Bulletin national poll. The Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association coaches picked Washburn and Northwest
Missouri to win the league title.
Series
Washburn holds a 1-0 series edge. The two teams met for the first time
ever in 2000-01. Washburn won the game at home, 106-90, on Nov. 17,
2000. The Ichabods went on to play in the NCAA Division II national
championship game at the end of the 2000-01 season and fell to Kentucky
Wesleyan 72-63.
Head Coaches
Evangel is led by Steve Jenkins. The 2002-03 season is Jenkins' 21st
at Evangel (348-285). Washburn's head coach is Bob Chipman. Chipman
begins his 24th season at Washburn in 2002-03 (533-186).
EU On the Radio
All Evangel basketball games will be broadcast live by Springfield's
ESPN Radio (1400 AM). The games are also web cast on Evangel's
home page. Ed Beach handles the play-by-play.
Last Season's Records
Evangel finished the 2001-02 season with a 35-1 mark, won the NAIA II
national championship, the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC)
title, and the HAAC postseason tournament.
Washburn ended the 2001-02 campaign with a 20-8 record and finished
in a tie for third place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics
Association. A year before (2000-01), the Ichabods advanced to the NCAA
II national championship game and lost to Kentucky Wesleyan 72-63.
Last Meeting With the Ichabods
Washburn defeated Evangel in Wichita, 106-90, on Nov. 17, 2000. The
game was the first ever between the two schools. Evangel shot 53.7 percent
from the field and Washburn was accurate on 53.5 percent of its shots.
The Ichabods controlled the rebounding, 37-28, and had fewer turnovers,
16-10. The teams put up 51 total 3-pointers. Evangel made 11 of 28 (39.3)
and Washburn made 11 of 23 (47.8). The Ichabods struggled at the line,
making just 19 of 29 (65.5) while Evangel hit 21 of 25 charity shots
(84.0). Washburn had a 57-46 halftime lead.
Bryan Osterloh led Evangel with 37 points and six rebounds. Daniel Cutbirth chipped in with 24 points and six assists. Both players went on to earn all-America honors at the end of Evangel's NAIA II championship season in 2001-02 as seniors. Mike Hawkins added 15 markers.
Five Washburn players scored in double figures. The 20 points of Eric Carter and Shannon Kruger led the group. Ewan Auguste had 18 points, Randoph Williams tallied 13 and Ryan Murphy added 10.
Evangel's Andy Truesdale is the only starter returning from that game
on either team. He played 15 minutes at point guard. Other returning
Crusaders from the game are Bert Capel (12 minutes, 2 points on free
throws, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Grant Curtis (24 minutes, 5 points, 3
rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), and Jason Stubbs (6 minutes, 3 rebounds).
Washburn players returning from the game are Troy Douglas (4 minutes,
1 rebound), Ryan Murphy (19 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists,
1 steal), Matt Tinsley (1 minute), and Ryan Tomlins (14 minutes, 5 points,
1 rebound, 3 assists).
Evangel's Stat Leaders
Through the first three games, four players are scoring in double figures.
Freshman Ryan Luethy leads the Crusaders with his 13.7 scoring average.
Also scoring in double digits are Bert Capel (12.7), Anthony Moore (11.7)
and Matt Dyall (11.0). Moore is the rebound leader with a 9.7 average.
Dyal is getting 5.7 rebounds per outing and Capel is averaging 4.7.
Moore also leads the assists with 13 (4.3) and has six steals. Dyal
is hitting 86.7 percent of his field goals (13-15), Capel is scoring
on 65.2 percent of his efforts (15-23) and Luethy has a 60.9 field goal
percentage (14-23). Luethy has made 53.3 percent of his treys (8-15).
Top Returners for Washburn
Starters returning are Manny Clifton (6-5, Sr., F), Shannon Kruger (5-10,
Sr., G), and Ryan Murphy (6-6, Sr., F). John Crider (6-4, Sr., G) saw
14 starts last season and Carlo Walton (5-10, Sr., G) began 17 games
in 2001-02. Clifton averaged 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds on his way
to garnering first team all-conference and second team all-region honors.
Murphy averaged 14.7 points and 6.7 rebounds and won second team all-conference
laurels. Kruger garnered honorable mention all-conference honors, averaged
8.4 points, and made 65 of 169 3-pointers (38.5).
Capel, Curtis, Moore Get Career Highs
* Bert Capel scored 18 points against Bethel (Ind.) on Nov. 15 to eclipse
his previous career-high of 16 points versus Culver-Stockton on Jan.14,
2002.
* Grant Curtis dished out five assists on Nov. 16 against Columbia.
Previously, Curtis had passed for four assists in six different games.
* Anthony Moore scored 17 points versus Bethel on Nov. 15 and grabbed
13 rebounds against Columbia on Nov. 16 to establish new career highs
in those categories. Moore's previous scoring high was 16 points in
three games last season and he had 10 rebounds in two 2001-02 contests.
Freshmen Off to Solid Starts
Freshman Ryan Luethy, who came to Evangel from Springfield's Glendale
High School, has scored 41 points in Evangel's first three games (13.7).
He scored in double figures against College of the Ozarks (18) and Bethel
(18) before being limited to five points against Columbia. He is making
60.9 percent of his field goals, including 8 of 15 shooting from the
3-point line.
Matt Dyal, a freshman from Willard (Mo.) High School, has scored 33
points (11.0) and brought down 17 rebounds (5.7) in his first three
collegiate games. Dyal has made 86.7 percent of his field goals (13-15)
and blocked three shots. Dyal had ten points versus College of the Ozarks,
eight versus Bethel and exploded for 15 against Columbia. He had seven
rebounds in the College of Ozarks game on Nov. 12.
The Reliable One
Anthony Moore (6-3, Sr., G) continues to showcase his versatility during
the 2002-03 season. Moore averages 11.7 points and leads the team in
rebounds (9.7), assists (13) and steals (6) thru the first three games.
Last year, first at Evangel, he averaged 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6
assists, and 2.0 steals per outing. Moore transferred to EU from national
junior college powerhouse Southwest Missouri State-West Plains.
EU's National Ranking History
Evangel's national ranking this season (preseason) marks the seventh
season an EU men's basketball team has been ranked.
Season High Final
| 1991-92 | 4 | 29 |
| 1994-95 | 5 | NR |
| 1996-97 | 2 | 14 |
| 1998-99 | 15 | 24 |
| 2000-01 | 5 | 7 |
| 2001-02 | 1* | 1* |
| 2002-03 | 9+ | --- |
*ranked No. 1 all season
+preseason
EU's 2002-03 Poll Progression
Preseason 9
Dec. 3 __
The Career Record Book
| 3-Point Field Goals Made | ||
| 201 | Mike Hawkins | (1997-01) |
| 176 | Rex Stephens | (1989-93) |
| 167 | Daniel Cutbirth | (1998-02) |
| 155 | Ryan Wakley | (1992-96) |
| 141 | Kevin Baker | (1988-9, 92-5) |
| 125 | Chris Wilson | (1995-98) |
| 122 | Brock Blansit | (1993-97) |
| 124 | Grant Curtis | (00-) |
| 114 | Maury Leitzke | (1995-97) |
| 105 | Mike Linehan | (1992-95) |
| 90 | Brian Soukup | (1995-99) |
| 71 | Shane Cole | (1989-93) |
| 71 | Andy Truesdale | (1999-) |
| Assists | ||
| 439 | Brian Soukup | (1995-99) |
| 422 | Shawn Kuhn | (1979-81) |
| 394 | Shane Cole | (1989-93) |
| 370 | Rory Mattar | (1978-80) |
| 370 | Ryan Wakley | (1992-96) |
| 344 | Mark Martin | (1982-85) |
| 304 | Darrin Cates | (1991-93) |
| 290 | Mike Hawkins | (1997-01) |
| 283 | Dan LaHaie | (1987-91) |
| 266 | Mike Goggin | (1984-88) |
| 261 | Andy Truesdale | (1999-02) |