Evangel hosts College of the Ozarks
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Ashcroft Center* Springfield, Mo.
The Crusaders are 8-1. Evangel has won its last eight 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 by Daniel Bandy. The Crusaders are ranked No. 4 on the first NAIA II poll (Dec. 5). Evangel’s last game was on Nov. 6 at home against Avila. The Crusaders won 88-57. EU’s entire schedule and results are listed in the left-hand column.
College of the Ozarks is 9-1 and No. 11 on the NAIA II national poll. The Bobcats won their first four games before losing 90-57 to Saint Xavier in Chicago on Nov. 16. C of O came back from that loss to win its next five games, including an 87-83 double-overtime game versus Shawnee State on Dec. 8 in Pt Lookout.
Evangel’s starting post player, Tim Dial, was diagnosed with mononucleosis prior to EU’s home game vs. Avila on Dec. 6. He missed that game and will also not dress out for the Dec. 11 game vs. College of the Ozarks and perhaps the Southwest Baptist game on Dec. 18. It is uncertain when he will return to the lineup.
The Crusaders won their eighth straight game on Dec. 6, defeating Avila 88-57 in Ashcroft Center. The night belonged to Jackson Capel, who scored a career-tying 37 points. The junior guard made 13 of 22 from the floor, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range. He also made all four of his free throw attempts. The seven treys are just one shy of the school record held by Kevin Baker (vs. College of Pharmacy, 1-31-94) and Capel. Ironically, Capel’s record-tying eight treys came against Avila on Feb. 5, 2007. Capel’s marksmanship came in handy as EU was playing without its starting center, Tim Dial, who is out with mononucleosis. EU’s four other “big men” - Todd Simon, Chad Simon, Chad Gillaspy, Josh Kleine - countered the loss of Dial by combining for 25 points and 22 rebounds. T.Simon had six points and eight rebounds. C.Simon added six points and a board. Gillaspy came off the bench to score six points and pull down three rebounds. Kleine scored seven points and led all rebounders with 10 boards. Jordan Chapman, who also did not start, added seven points. Starting guard Shane Nicholson dished out six assists to lead all passers.
The Bobcats played host to Shawnee State (Ohio) on Dec. 8 and won the game 87-83 in two overtimes. Corey Stone led C of O with 28 points and also had 10 rebounds. Daniel Bandy also lit it up with 25 points and Colt Blair chipped in 14 points. C of O lost the battle of the boards, 52-38, but had fewer turnovers, 18-26. Bandy and Chris Pullen accounted for six of Shawnee State’s turnovers as the two players had three steals each. The Bobcats made 19 of 26 free throws in the second half (23-31 total) to help overcome a 36-29 deficit.
Evangel is led by Steve Jenkins, who begins his 26th season as the head coach in 2007-08. Jenkins (Evangel, 1974) has a 451-348 record in 26 seasons at the Crusader helm. Jenkins won his 450th game on Dec. 1 vs. Culver-Stockton in Ashcroft Center, 72-54.
College of the Ozarks is led by Steve Shepherd in his sixth year. Shepherd (Northwest Missouri, 1986) is 109-60 as the C of O men’s head coach. Last season, Shepherd’s Bobcats won the NAIA II national championship. Shepherd is no stranger to Evangel fans as he was an EU assistant for four years (1998-2002).
Evangel leads the series 43-31. College of the Ozarks won the most recent game, defeating EU 81-79 in Pt. Lookout, Mo., on Nov. 6 of this season. The teams split their games during the 2006-07 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 the Bobcats had regrouped and defeated Evangel 75-64.
Since the 1970-71 season (records are incomplete prior to 1970), Evangel has a 23-10 advantage vs. C of O in Ashcroft Center. From 1970 to 1989, Evangel enjoyed a 15-2 record at home. Since the 1990-91 season, however, EU has never won more than two in a row at home vs. C of O and the record is tied, 8-8. The first game played between the two schools was played in 1958 at Drury and Evangel won by one point, 73-72.
Evangel’s Jackson Capel ranks No. 7 in 3-point field goal percentage (55.9) and No. 9 in 3-point field goals made per game (4.2).
The Crusaders are No. 5 in scoring defense (58.6), No. 6 in 3-point field goal percentage (43.4), No. 8 in field goal percentage (51.4), and No. 10 in total rebound defense (28.6).
College of the Ozarks’ Chris Pullen ranks No. 7 in blocks per game (2.3). Daniel Bandy is No. 9 in steals per game (2.9).
The Bobcats are No. 3 in turnover margin (7.1), No. 6 in steals per game (11.9), and No. 6 in blocks per game (4.9).
EU junior Jackson Capel scored 11 points versus Central Methodist on Nov. 29 to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He has scored 1,065 points during his career. Capel is the 26th Crusader to score 1,000 points in a career. The list includes current teammates Tim Dial (1,391) and Todd Simon (1,110).
From the 3-point arc, Capel has scored 208 career treys. He needs 23 more 3-pointers to break the record of 230 set by Grant Curtis (2000-04). Capel is the fourth Crusader to score 200 or more treys in a career.
Evangel traveled to College of the Ozarks in Pt. Lookout on Nov. 6. It was EU’s season opener and C of O’s second game of the year. The Crusaders enjoyed most of the second half - except for the last few seconds.
C of O’s Daniel Bandy, who led all scorers with 27 points, dropped in a 3-pointer with 7.7 seconds left in the game to give the Bobcats the upset victory. Evangel had led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the host kept chipping at the lead, thanks in part to 29 EU turnovers. Bandy’s shot gave C of O its first lead of the second half as well as the win. EU outshot the Bobcats from the field, 52.8 to 44.0 percent. EU hit 9 of 15 treys (.600) and C of O made 10 of 25 (.400). EU also led from the free throw line, 82.4 (14-17) to 50.0 (5-10) percent, and had a 43-31 rebounding edge. In the end, however, turnovers and Bandy’s shooting made the difference in the game.
Evangel was led by Jackson Capel’s 23 points. Capel was 5 of 7 from the 3-point arc. Todd Simon tallied 12 points. He and Tim Dial each pulled down seven rebounds. Dial and Shane Nicholson finished with 10 points each. Joel Brown was the passing leader. He was credited with five assists.
College of the Ozarks’ Bandy hit 12 of 24 from the floor, including 3 of 9 from 3-point range, to score his 27 points, dished out six assists and had four steals. Also scoring in double figures for the Bobcats were Corey Stone (15) and Chris Pullen (14). Colt Blair led C of O’s rebounding with seven caroms.
At the time, Evangel was ranked No. 6 (tied with Walsh-Ohio) and College of the Ozarks was No. 23 (tied with William Penn-Iowa).
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.