Evangel at Central Methodist
Thursday, Nov. 29
Puckett Field House, Fayette, Mo.
Radio: ESPN Radio 1400 AM (KGMY, Springfield)
Webcast: All In Broadcasting
Evangel and Central Methodist will be playing their first Heart of America Athletic Conference game of the 2007-08 season when they meet in Fayette, Mo., on Nov. 29.
Evangel leads the series with the Central Methodist Runnin’ Eagles, 30-21. The Crusaders defeated Central Methodist both times in 2006-07. EU won 72-67 at home on Nov. 16 and won 73-63 in Fayette, Mo., on Jan. 18.
During the 2005-06 season, EU lost at Central Methodist 77-59 on Feb. 11, 2006. Prior to that loss, Evangel hadn’t lost a game versus Central Methodist in 13 consecutive games, dating back to a one-point (77-76) loss on Dec. 2, 2000 in Fayette. The Crusaders have won 15 of the last 16 games and are 5-1 in Fayette over the last six contests.
The first game between Evangel and Central Methodist was on Dec. 12, 1961 in Springfield. Central Methodist won 83-67.
Evangel has won its last five games, after a stunning 81-79 loss at College of the Ozarks to open the season. EU led the entire game until a last-second C of O 3-pointer. The Crusaders are ranked No. 6 on the NAIA II preseason poll. Evangel has won its five games by an average of 17.6 points.
Central Methodist is 4-5. The Runnin’ Eagles have had an up-and-down start to 2007-08. Their most recent game resulted in a 75-55 victory over Hannibal-LaGrange in the Columbia (Mo.) Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24. The win stopped a three-game losing streak. CMU has scored over 100 points twice and has won both games. The Runnin’ Eagles won 106-65 at home vs. William Woods on Nov. 6 and 105-100 in two OTs at Iowa Wesleyan on Nov. 16.
Evangel is led by Steve Jenkins, who begins his 26th season as the head coach in 2007-08. Jenkins (Evangel, 1974) has a 448-348 record in 26 seasons at the Crusader helm.
Central Methodist head coach Jeff Sherman (Central Methodist, 1983) began his 23rd season at CMU in 2007-08. He needs three more wins to reach 400 (397-335).
EU junior Jackson Capel has scored 999 points during his career. When he hits the 1000-point plateau, he will be the 26th Crusader to score 1,000 points in a career. The list includes current teammates Tim Dial (1,367) and Todd Simon (1,088).
From the 3-point arc, Capel has scored 196 career treys. He needs 35 more 3-pointers to break the record of 230 set by Grant Curtis (2000-04) and four more to be the fourth Crusader to score 200 treys in a career.
Evangel’s Jackson Capel ranks No. 8 in 3-point field goals made (4.3) on the NAIA II national stats list.
The Crusaders are No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense (57.8).
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.