January 9, 2008
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Game 14
No. 7 Evangel hosts Lindenwood
7:30 p.m. January 10
Ashcroft Center: Springfield, Mo.
Evangel Radio Broadcast and Webcast
ESPN Radio (KGMY, 1400 AM)
www.allinbroadcasting.com
Play-by-play: Ed Beach
The Crusaders are 11-3 overall, 4-0 vs. Heart of America Athletic Conference foes, and ranked No. 7 in NAIA II (Jan. 9 poll). The Crusaders dropped two spots on the Jan. 9 poll after a No. 5 ranking on the Dec. 12 national top-25 list. EU had won nine games in a row before losing at NCAA II member Southwest Baptist on Dec. 18 and to Biola University by one point on Dec. 28 in the Bethany University Classic (Calif.). EU then defeated Bethany on the 29th and got January started on the right foot with a 78-62 win at conference foe Graceland on Jan. 5.
The Lindenwood Lions are 9-7 overall and 3-3 versus Heart of America Athletic Conference foes. Lindenwood has split its last six games and the half dozen games have all been league contests. Lindenwood defeated Missouri Valley at home on Nov. 29 (96-71) then lost at home to MidAmerica Nazarene on Dec. 1 (87-65). Next, Lindenwood defeated Avila in Kansas City on Dec. 8 (73-63) and followed that win with a loss at Central Methodist on Jan. 3 (82-79). On Jan. 5 Lindenwood defeated Baker at home (88-61) and then lost its Jan. 7 home game with William Jewell (75-62).
Evangel’s starting post player, Tim Dial, was diagnosed with mononucleosis prior to EU’s home game vs. Avila on Dec. 6 and missed the next five games. He was given permission to return to the lineup for the Graceland game on Jan. 5. He did not start, but played four minutes, scored four points and brought down one rebound as he began to work his way back into playing shape.
From the 3-point arc, Jackson Capel has scored 226 career treys. He needs five 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 is led by Steve Jenkins, who begins his 26th season as the head coach in 2007-08. Jenkins (Evangel, 1974) has a 454-350 record in 26 seasons at the Crusader helm. Jenkins won his 450th game on Dec. 1 vs. Culver-Stockton, 72-54.
Lindenwood is led by Ryan Cherepkai (Southern Illinois, 2002) in his third year. Cherepkai has a 51-32 record at Lindenwood.
Evangel junior forward Chad Simon was selected as the Heart of America Athletic Conference player of the week.
Simon led the Crusaders to their fourth conference win at Graceland on Jan. 5 with a career-high 20 points. He made 10 of 11 field goals and brought down eight rebounds - one shy of his career-best. In addition, Simon dished out three assists and had a blocked shot.
Evangel leads the series with Lindenwood, 18-11. The teams split their meetings during the regular season in 2006-07 (LU won in St. Charles 84-76, EU won in Springfield 91-64), however, EU then defeated the Lions at home, 85-70, in the first round of the conference tournament. Over the last ten games, each team has won five times.
At home, Evangel leads the series with Lindenwood, 11-4, and has won eight of the last nine games, including the last three played in Ashcroft. Lindenwood’s win at Evangel during the nine-game span was four meetings ago (Feb. 17, 2005) by an 80-75 score.
| Rank | Team | Conference Record |
Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Jewell | 6-0 | 10-6 |
| Evangel | 4-0 | 11-3 | |
| 3 | MidAmerica Nazarene | 4-1 | 14-1 |
| Benedictine | 4-1 | 9-5 | |
| 5 | Missouri Valley | 3-2 | 3-11 |
| 6 | Lindenwood | 2-2 | 8-6 |
| 7 | Central Methodist | 2-2 | 6-7 |
| 8 | Baker | 1-5 | 4-11 |
| Culver-Stockton | 1-5 | 4-11 | |
| Graceland | 1-5 | 4-11 | |
| 11 | Avila | 1-6 | 4-11 |
Senior EU forward Todd Simon scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds vs. College of the Ozarks on Dec. 11. The double-double is the 12th of his career and his first in 2007-08.
EU junior Jackson Capel scored 11 points versus Central Methodist on Nov. 29 to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He has scored 1,160 points during his career. Capel is the 26th Crusader to score 1,000 points in a career. The list includes current teammates Tim Dial (1,395) and Todd Simon (1,156). Shane Nicholson is also closing in on 1,000 points. He has scored 900 points to date.