Game 10
Evangel vs. Graceland University
December 9, 4 p.m.
Ashcroft Center
Springfield, Mo.
Go to the basketball broadcast page
After streaking to a 5-2 record with a No. 3 preseason ranking in NAIA II, the Crusaders have hit a wall in their last two games. EU is ranked No. 19 on the first poll of the year and has dropped its last two contests - losing at home to a talented Benedictine team, 76-67, on Dec. 2 and losing at No. 3-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene, 67-60, on Dec. 7. The Crusaders hope to regroup and start a new winning streak when they host Graceland on Dec. 9. The win won’t come easy, however, as Graceland is extra-hungry for a win. The Yellowjackets have lost their last four games and Graceland’s only win was against Doane at home on Nov. 11 (74-68).
At MidAmerica Nazarene on Dec. 7, the Crusaders were down by nine points at the half, 33-24, and fell 16 points behind at the midway point of the second half. The EU men fought back, however, and nearly tied it up with 1:39 left in the game. Austin Brewer hit a driving layup to pull Evangel within one, 61-60. Brewer’s heroics would be the final highlight for the Crusaders, however. MNU’s Akuien Wour then scored with just over a minute left and Adam Hepker and Cal Kiburz each add two free throws and MNU won 67-60.
Shane Nicholson scored 12 points - all in the second half - and Austin Brewer added a dozen points off the bench to pace the Crusaders. Tim Dial led EU’s rebounding with six boards. Four MNU players scored in double figures, led by Kiburz’s 16 points. Kiburtz also had nine rebounds.
The Graceland Yellowjackets are off to a 1-7 start and have lost all four of their Heart of America Athletic Conference games. Graceland’s lone win was at home on Nov. 11. The Yellowjackets defeated Doane College, 74-68.
Graceland’s most recent game resulted in an 81-66 loss at home to conference foe Baker University on Dec. 5. Baker hit 47.1 percent of its field goals and Graceland made 33.9 percent. From the 3-point arch, Baker also had a better percentage, 35.3 (6-17) to 27.3 (3-11) and also shot better from the line, 81.8 (27-33) to 70.0 (21-30). The rebounds were nearly equal and Baker had more turnovers, 18-13.
The Crusaders will take 11 days off before traveling to Huntington ( Ind.) University, the No. 1-ranked NAIA II team in the nation.
Evangel will then head south to Florida and play in the Warner Southern College Tournament in Lake Wales, Fla. Evangel will meet Indiana University-South Bend on Friday, Dec. 29, at 5 p.m. (Central Time). On Saturday, Dec. 30, Evangel will play either the host, Warner Southern, or Grand View College ( Iowa), depending on the outcome of the games on the 29th.
Evangel leads the series 35-7, however, EU holds a slight 3-2 advantage over the last two seasons. In 2004-05 Evangel defeated Graceland 80-72 at home, lost 79-70 in Lamoni, Iowa, and then returned to Lamoni to face the Yellowjackets in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament and lost 65-63.
Last season, Evangel won 77-56 at Graceland and 86-73 at home.
The two teams have played 20 times in Evangel’s Ashcroft Center and EU has won the last 19. Graceland’s win was on Jan. 16, 1988 by two points, 49-47.
EU and Graceland first met during the 1959-60 season and EU won both games in Lamoni, Iowa. The teams didn’t play again until Graceland’s 1988 win at Evangel.
Evangel is directed by head coach Steve Jenkins (Evangel, 1974). Jenkins begins his 25th season in 2006-07 and has a 428-338 record.
Graceland’s head coach is Ted Quinn (Mount Marty, 1997). Quinn has a 10-25 record and is in his second year.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine | 5-0 |
| 2 | MidAmerica Nazarene | 3-0 |
| 3 | Missouri Valley | 3-1 |
| William Jewell | 3-1 | |
| 5 | Evangel | 2-2 |
| Baker | 2-2 | |
| 7 | Central Methodist | 2-3 |
| 8 | Avila | 1-3 |
| Lindenwood | 1-3 | |
| 10 | Culver-Stockton | 1-4 |
| 11 | Graceland | 0-4 |
Three players tied or set new season standards in scoring and/or rebounding in EU’s 67-60 loss at MidAmerica Nazarene on Dec. 7.
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 the Evangel men’s (and women’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.
Watch the Game of the Week
Beginning sometime during December, 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.