Game 3
Evangel vs. Central Methodist
Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Ashcroft Center
Springfield, Mo.
Go to the basketball broadcast page
The EU Crusaders will begin their 2006-07 Heart of America Athletic Conference schedule on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Ashcroft Center. Evangel will host Central Methodist University from Fayette, Mo.
Evangel is now 2-1 after defeating College of the Ozarks in Ashcroft Center on Nov. 7.
The Crusaders upset College of the Ozarks, 82-69. The game featured a match-up of two NAIA II nationally ranked teams. College of the Ozarks is ranked No. 1 on the preseason NAIA II poll and Evangel is No. 3.
All five Evangel starters and the first player off the bench scored in double figures. Tim Dial led EU’s scoring with 16 points. Jackson Capel and Shane Nicholson added 12 points each. Joel Brown scored 11 points and dished out five assists. Todd Simon poured in 10 points and led EU’s rebounding with seven boards. Jerod Floyd, who missed the 2005-06 season with an injury and who was a starter in 2004-05, scored 14 points off the bench. Evangel made 50.0 percent of its field goals, 82.6 percent of its charity tosses (19-23), and 41.7 percent from the 3-point line (5-12). Meanwhile, C of O struggled on offense. Michael Bonaparte recorded a double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Heath Sitton added 17 points and 7 rebounds. No other player scored over nine points for the Bobcats. C of O’s shooting percentages were 42.4 from the floor, 45.5 from the line (10-22) and 15.8 from beyond the 3-point arch (3-19).
College of the Ozards had a 45-33 rebounding advantage. Evangel had fewer turnovers, 11-13, and outscored C of O, 16-7 following a turnover.
Central Methodist opened its season with a double-overtime, one-point, win at William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Nov. 7. CMU won the game 94-93.
The Runnin’ Eagles were led by Matt Sherman, the son of head CMU head coach Jeff Sherman. M.Sherman came off the bench to score 21 points, including 4 of 8 shooting from 3-point range. Anthony Love was close behind with 20 points and Shane Ringen added 19. Derek Moore, Jeff Blauvelt and Jesse Oswald each pulled down seven rebounds.
Central Methodist has also played two games that it is counting as exhibition games. On Nov. 10 CMU lost 83-54 at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and on Nov. 11 lost 71-53 at Central Arkansas.
Evangel leads the series with Central Methodist, 28-21. The teams split last season. Evangel won 81-66 at home and lost 77-59 in Fayette, Mo. Before losing last season, Evangel hadn’t lost a game versus CMU in 13 consecutive games, dating back to a one-point (77-76) loss on Dec. 2, 2000 in Fayette.
At home, EU has won 11 straight against Central Methodist and is 19-6 overall in Ashcroft Center verus the Runnin’ Eagles. Central Methodist’s last win in Ashcroft Center was on Jan. 17, 1998 (81-77).
The first game between Evangel and Central Methodist was on Dec. 12, 1961 in Springfield. Central Methodist won 83-67.
Evangel is directed by head coach Steve Jenkins. Jenkins begins his 25th season in 2006-07 and has a 425-335 record. Jenkins’ 2001-02 team won the NAIA II national championship.
Jeff Sherman is the head coach for Central Methodist. Sherman is in his 22nd year and has a 377-316 record.
The Crusaders will travel to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 18. Game time is 4 p.m. in Charles Field House.
For the fifth year in a row, all Evangel University men’s basketball and two women’s games will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio (KGMY, 1400 AM). The two women’s games are Dec. 7 at MidAmerica Nazarene and Jan. 23 at College of the Ozarks. In addition, all of the EU women’s postseason games will be broadcast.
All Evangel men’s games and several women’s games are also webcast by Evangel’s 2006-07 Internet broadcast partner, All In Broadcasting, at www.allinbroadcasting.com. The postgame show will provide a complete recap of each game and it is sponsored by the Assemblies of God Credit Union. Evangel’s Internet partner is Best Western - Deerfield Inn.
Ed Beach, Evangel director of broadcasting and marketing for athletics, will handle the play-by-play duties as the “Voice of the Crusaders” for the fifth season in a row.
Beginning after Dec. 2 of this year, a selected men’s and women’s “game of the week” will be available for viewing about a week after the contest. The Evangel games can be viewed at All In Broadcasting, www.allinbroadcasting.com. All games will be archived up to one month after the season’s end. Fans can access a game for 99 cents for 24 hours or for $2.99 can watch the game unlimited times and download it as well.
All games are a simulcast with the radio coverage on ESPN 1400 AM and the video portion is produced by ECTV (Evangel Cable Television), Evangel’s student television station.