Game 9
Evangel vs. MidAmerica Nazarene
December 7, 7:30 p.m.
Cook Center Bell Family Arena
Olathe, Kans.
Go to the basketball broadcast page
It will be a matchup of nationally ranked teams when No. 19 Evangel plays at No. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene on Thursday, Dec. 7. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Cook Center Bell Family Arena in Olathe, Kans.
After beginning the year with an overtime loss versus John Brown, a NAIA I school, Evangel ran off four wins before dropping two of its last three contests. The Crusaders are 5-3 overall and have a 2-0 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. EU is ranked No. 19 on the first NAIA II national poll of the year. The Crusaders were ranked No. 3 on the preseason NAIA II list.
MidAmerica Nazarene is off to a perfect 8-0 start. The Pioneers are 2-0 versus Heart of America Athletic Conference foes. MidAmerica Nazarene is ranked No. 3 on the first NAIA II national poll of the year. MNU was No. 6 on the NAIA II preseason poll.
The Crusaders lost 76-67 to visiting Benedictine College on Dec. 2. Poor shooting doomed EU from the beginning. Benedictine shot better from the field (47.2 to 39.1), from the 3-point arch (33.3, 5-15 to 21.1, 4-19) and from the line (70.0, 21-30 to 52.9, 9-17). Both teams finished with 39 rebounds and Benedictine had just two more turnovers, 22-20. Todd Simon can up two points shy of recording the eighth double-double of his career. He scored eight points and brought down a career-high 16 rebounds. Shane Nicholson was the only starter in double figures, scoring 13. Nathan Swearengin and Jerod Floyd each added 10 points off the bench.
MidAmerica Nazarene claimed its eight consecutive win of 2006-07 with a solid 97-68 win at Culver-Stockton on Dec. 2. The Pioneers had a 18-rebound advantage (53-38) and four fewer turnovers (13-17), while shooting better from the floor, no matter the type of shot. Jacob Nellor paced MNU with a double-double. He scored 22 points and totaled ten rebounds. Danny Hawkins poured in 18 points as did Adam Helpker. Austin Boots didn’t start but scored 11 points and Akuien Wour chipped in 10 points.
The Crusaders will host the Graceland University Yellowjackets from Lamoni, Iowa, on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Heart of America Athletic Conference game will begin at 4 p.m. in Ashcroft Center.
MidAmerica Nazarene leads the series 25-23. Last season, EU and MNU split. Evangel won at home, 71-70, and MidAmerica Nazarene won in Olathe, Kansas, 73-68. MidAmerica Nazarene has won six of the last eight meetings between the two schools. In addition to last year’s one-point loss at Evangel, MNU also lost 80-72 at home on Feb. 27, 2004. MNU has won the last two games played in Olathe and leads the series there, 15-8.
Evangel is directed by head coach Steve Jenkins (Evangel, 1974). Jenkins begins his 25th season in 2006-07 and has a 428-337 record.
Rocky Lamar is MidAmerica Nazarene’s head coach. Lamar is 470-253 in 21 years at MNU.
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.