Game Notes – Pittsburg State University Classic, Nov. 24-25
Go to the basketball broadcast page
The Crusaders will take on two NCAA Division II opponents in Pittsburg (Kans.) State University’s Pepsi/Morning Sun Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24-25. EU will face the host school, Pittsburg State, on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 25, Evangel will meet Missouri Southern State University at 5 p.m.
Missouri Southern vs. Colorado School of Mines, 5 p.m.
Evangel vs. Pittsburg State, 7 p.m.
Evangel vs. Missouri Southern, 5 p.m.
Pittsburg State vs. Colorado School of Mines, 7 p.m.
Evangel is 4-1 and ranked No. 3 on the NAIA Division II preseason poll. The Crusaders’ most recent game resulted in a 78-75 win at Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo. Jackson Capel scored 18 points to lead the Crusaders. Jerod Floyd came off the bench to score 16 points and Shane Nicholson added 14 points and eight assists. Austin Brewer topped EU’s rebounding with six boards.
Pittsburg State is 2-0. The two wins came in the Missouri Southern State classic on Nov. 17-18. PSU defeated West Texas A&M 73-59 on Nov. 17 and Central Bible College ( Mo.) 81-36 on Nov. 18. West Texas A&M is ranked No. 22 on the NCAA Division II preseason poll. Central Bible is a Division II member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Missouri Southern is 3-0. MSSU got its season off on a successful note, defeating Missouri-St. Louis 74-64 at home. Then, Missouri Southern won two games in its own classic on Nov. 17-18. On Nov. 17, the Lions defeated Central Bible (see PSU above) 96-44 and upset No. 22-ranked (NCAA II preseason) West Texas A&M 75-70.
The Crusaders will return to Heart of America Athletic Conference action on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Three players scored season-highs in EU’s 78-75 win at Culver-Stockton on Nov. 18. Jerod Floyd scored 16 points, Jordan Chapman had five, and Steve Sanon totaled four points.
In addition, Austin Brewer brought down six rebounds and Sanon had five to register new personal season highs.
Pittsburg State leads the series with Evangel, 8-1, and has won the last four meetings. The most recent game between the two schools was on Nov. 29, 2004 at Pittsburg State and the Gorillas won 87-56. EU’s lone win came after four straight PSU wins to start the series. Evangel defeated Pittsburg State 59-55 at home in the Evangel Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26, 1983.
Missouri Southern leads the series with the Crusaders, 13-3, and has won the last seven meetings. The most recent game between the schools was on Feb. 28, 1987 in the first round of the NAIA District 16 playoffs. MSSU won 85-68 on its home court. EU’s three wins were at Missouri Southern on Feb. 20, 1979 (87-69 in OT), and at home on Dec. 11, 1978 (77-72) and on Feb. 1, 1969 (63-56).
Evangel is directed by head coach Steve Jenkins (Evangel, 1974). Jenkins begins his 25th season in 2006-07 and has a 427-335 record.
Pittsburg State is led by Gene Iba (Tulsa University, 1963) in his 12th year. Iba has a 208-114 record at PSU.
Missouri Southern’s head coach is Robert Corn. Corn, who is in his 18th year at MSSU, has a 267-218 mark.
For the fifth year in a row, all Evangel University men’s basketball games will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio (KGMY, 1400 AM).
All Evangel men’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.