Men’s Basketball Season Opener

Game 1
Evangel University “Crusaders”
vs. College of the Ozarks
Tuesday, November 6, 7:30 p.m.
Keeter Gymnasium* Pt. Lookout, Mo.
Radio: ESPN Radio 1400 AM (KGMY, Springfield)
Webcast: All In Broadcasting

The Crusaders will open their 2007-08 season at College of the Ozarks on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Pt. Lookout, Mo. On the NAIA II preseason poll, EU is ranked No. 6 (tied with Walsh-Ohio) and C of O is No. 23 (tied with William Penn-Iowa).

Following their game at College of the Ozarks, the EU men will open their home season on Friday, Nov. 9, with a game versus Huntington (Ind.) University in Ashcroft Center. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Preceding Evangel’s game with Huntington, a 5:30 p.m. game will be played in Ashcroft Center between Central Bible College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Texas).

Evangel and Central Bible then switch opponents on Saturday, Nov. 10 and play at CBC’s Forest Arnold Activity Building. Central Bible and Huntington will play at 3 p.m. Evangel and Southwestern Assemblies of God will follow at 5 p.m.

College of the Ozarks Wins Opener

The Bobcats opened their season with a convincing 99-69 home victory over Graceland University (Iowa). The game was College of the Ozarks’ homecoming contest on Nov. 2. Graceland and Evangel are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Daniel Bandy led C of O with 22 points. He also dished out five assists and had three steals and two blocks. Colt Blair and Corey Stone, who missed most of last year, each scored 17 points. Jared Howerton added 11 points. Stone and Chris Pullen each pulled down seven rebounds.

Series, EU vs. C of O

Evangel leads the series 43-30. The teams split their games last season. In a game that featured both teams with national rankings on the preseason poll (EU was No. 3, C of O was No. 1), Evangel defeated College of the Ozarks, 82-69, in Springfield on Nov. 7. After that game, College of the Ozarks had several players suspended by the school for rules violations. By the time Evangel traveled to Pt. Lookout on Jan. 23, however, the Bobcats had regrouped without the suspended players. C of O defeated Evangel 75-64.

In Pt. Lookout, the series is tied, 17-17. College of the Ozarks has won the last three meetings on its home floor. EU’s most recent win at C of O was on Feb. 3, 2004 by a 64-59 score.

EU Player Doubtful

Austin Brewer injured an ankle in practice on Saturday, Nov. 3, and is listed as doubtful for the C of O game.

Coaches

Evangel is led by Steve Jenkins, who begins his 26th season as the head coach in 2007-08. Jenkins has a 443-347 record in his 25 seasons at the Crusader helm.

Steve Shepherd begins his sixth year as the head coach of the College of the Ozarks Bobcats. He is 100-59 in his five years at C of O. Shepherd is an ex-Evangel assistant coach (1998-2002).

Evangel Veterans

• Austin Brewer (6-2, Sr., G): three letters, won team’s best Defensive Player award, 4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 50.5 FG% (46-91)
• Joel Brown (6-0, Sr., G): three letters, won team Discipleship Award for spiritual leadership, also won team’s 6th Player Award, 4.9 ppg, 2.2 apg, 31.1 3FG% (14-45), 75.8 FT% (25-33)
• Jackson Capel (6-3, Jr., G): two letters, 3rd team NAIA All-America pick, 1st team all-conference,  won team’s best Offensive Player Award, 15.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 46.5 3FG% (93-200), 85.3 FT% (87-102)
• Jordan Chapman (6-3, Jr., G): two letters, played in 29 games, scored 60 points, had 15 rebounds and 14 assists, 37.8 3FG% (14-37)
• Jared Clay (6-0, So., G): one letter, saw action in 11 games, scored 11 points
• Tim Dial (6-7, Sr., F): three letters, NAIA All-America pick (h.m.), 2nd team all-conference, Warner Southern All-Tournament Team, joined 1,000 point club, team MVP, 13.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 59.0 FG% (174-295)
• Chad Gillaspy (6-6, RS Fr., F): redshirt freshman, 2006 Miller (Mo.) High School grad, 1st team all-state and area and conference
• Josh Kleine (6-7, RS Fr., C): redshirt freshman, 2006 grad of Mt. Vernon (Mo.) High School, two-all-conference and all-area player, 14.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg
• Shane Nicholson (6-0, Jr., G): two letters, 3rd team all-conference, 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 37.0 3FG% (27-73), 76.1 FT% (70-92)
• Chad  Simon (6-7, Jr., F): two letters, won team’s Most Improved Player Award, 3.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 58.9 FG% (43-73)
• Todd Simon (6-6, Sr., F): three letters, Daktronics-NAIA II Scholar-Athlete, NAIA All-Region V Scholar-Athlete, h.m. all-conference, joined 1000-point club, won team’s President’s Award for academics,11.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 54.5 FG% (140-257)

EU’s Newcomers

• Spud Harbour (5-11, Fr., G): 2007 grad of Springfield’s Glendale High School, 1st team all-state and all-district pick by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, 2nd team all-state pick by Associated Press, 1st team all-Ozarks, 1st team all-conference selection, named the player of the year in the city of Springfield, member of Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, scored 1,584 points - the second most ever by a Springfield high school player, 23.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.6 spg, 48.9 FG% (174-356), 41.1 3FG% (64-156), 84.2 FT% (123-146) 
• Corey Harmon (6-3, Fr., F): 2007 grad of Nixa (Mo.) High School, twice named to all-conference and all-district teams, during high school career he had 1000-plus points, 400-plus rebounds, 200-plus assists, and 150-plus steals

Players Lost By Evangel

• Drew Garrison (Sr., G): three letters, won team’s Hustle Award in 2006-07, played in 11 games
• Steve Sanon (6-6, F): three letters, played in 21 games
• Nathan Swearengin (5-11, G): one letter, 2006-07 EU rookie of the year, saw one start in 27 games, 36.8 3FG% (7-19)

EU on the Radio, Internet

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 All In Broadcasting. 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.