October 11, 2007
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
At today’s Heart of America Athletic Conference basketball media luncheon at the Royals Stadium Club in Kansas City, the Evangel men were picked to finish second in the 2007-08 conference race and the EU women were picked fifth.
Head men’s coach Steve Jenkins’ EU team received five of the 11 first place votes and totaled 102 points. MidAmerica Nazarene was the coaches’ favorite to win the conference title, garnering four first and six second place votes to total 104 points. In addition to their first place votes, the Crusaders also had three votes for second place, one for third and another for fourth. Benedictine received the other two first place votes for a total of 95 points and a third-place pick.
William Jewell’s men’s team was picked to finish fourth (82 points). Lindenwood received the fifth-place spot (63) and Central Methodist was close behind in sixth (61). The Missouri Valley men are picked to finish seventh (55) followed by Avila (45), Baker (41), Graceland (35) and Culver-Stockton (33).
The four positions in front of the Evangel women’s fifth place spot are filled, in order, by William Jewell (104), MidAmerica Nazarene (102), Benedictine (93) and Missouri Valley (85). The Lady Cardinals of William Jewell received six first place votes. MidAmerica Nazarene’s ladies had four of the first place votes and Benedictine’s women received the other first place vote. Head Evangel coach Leon Neal’s Lady Crusaders then followed fourth-place Missouri Valley (85) in fifth place with 76 points. Avila was voted sixth (60) and Graceland is seventh (47), followed closely by Baker in eighth (46). Culver-Stockton and Lindenwood tied for ninth place (40) and Central Methodist is 11th (22).
The 2006-07 Evangel men finished their season with a 20-13 record. EU and Benedictine tied for second place in the regular season standings with 14-6 records. EU had the tie-breaker over Benedictine and secured a spot in the NAIA II national tournament, where the Crusaders’ season came to an end with a 97-83 first round loss to Cedarville.
The Lady Crusaders had an 8-21 final record last season. The Evangel women tied with Lindenwood for seventh place in the final standings with an 8-12 record.
| Rank | Team | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
MidAmerica Nazarene* |
19-1 |
.950 |
2 |
Evangel |
14-6 |
.700 |
|
Bendictine |
14-6 |
.700 |
4 |
William Jewell |
11-9 |
.550 |
|
Missouri Valley |
11-9 |
.550 |
6 |
Central Methodist |
10-10 |
.500 |
|
Lindenwood |
10-10 |
.500 |
| 8 | Avila | 6-14 | .300 |
| Culver-Stockton | 6-14 | .300 | |
| Baker | 6-14 | .300 | |
11 |
Graceland |
3-17 |
.150 |
*2006-07 NAIA II National Champion
| Rank | Team | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
William Jewell |
18-2 |
.900 |
|
MidAmerica Nazarene |
18-2 |
.900 |
3 |
Missouri Valley |
13-7 |
.650 |
| 4 | Bendictine | 12-8 | .600 |
| 5 | Culver-Stockton | 10-10 | .500 |
| Avila | 10-10 | .500 | |
7 |
Evangel |
8-12 |
.400 |
|
Lindenwood |
8-12 |
.400 |
| 9 | Graceland |
7-13 | .350 |
| 10 | Baker | 3-17 | .150 |
|
Central Methodist |
3-17 |
.150 |