January 28, 2008
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Game 21
No. 3 Evangel hosts MidAmerica Nazarene
7:30 p.m. January 28
Ashcroft Center: Springfield, Mo.
Evangel Radio Broadcast and Webcast
ESPN Radio (KGMY, 1400 AM)
www.allinbroadcasting.com
Play-by-play: Ed Beach
Evangel visited Culver-Stockton on Jan. 26 - two days after Central Methodist upset EU in Springfield - and came home with a 74-60 win.
Spud Harbour provided the fireworks, exploding for 20 points, one point below his season high. He hit 6- of-9 from the field, all four free throws, and buried 4-of-6 3-pointers. Todd Simon added 17 points and nine rebounds. Chad Simon controlled eight boards.
EU had eight fewer turnovers (15-7) and had the rebound advantage (46- 30). Both teams struggled to find the basket. EU made 35.1 percent from the field and C-SC had a 36.4 percentage. Forced to foul down the stretch, Culver-Stockton allowed the Crusaders to shoot 41 free throws (made 28, .683). Culver-Stockton was 9- of-12 from the line.
The Crusaders outscored Culver- Stockton 24-12 in the pain and 14--6 off turnovers. EU also had success on the offensive boards, sweeping the glass for 18 caroms to CS-C’s 8.
Danny Hawkins responded to a
week-long rest with 26 points and 12
rebounds in a 80-65 win over
Lindenwood on Saturday. The first half
saw the Lions match the Pioneers shot
for shot until Adam Hepker’s lastsecond
3 sent MNU into the locker
room with a 6-point lead. The Pioneers
came out strong in the second half,
building a 12-point lead with 10 minutes
to play. But Lindenwood would not go
quietly and fought back to trail by just
4 with 6 minutes left. MNU turned up
the defense and closed the game with
a nice run which determined the final
score. Hepker had 15 points and 10
assists, Brenton Bell had 15 points and
2 steals, and Brandon Cameron had 12
points and 5 boards off the bench.
(From MNU’s website)
MidAmerica Nazarene leads the series 27-24 and has won 7 of the last 10 meetings. In 2006-07, EU lost 75-59 at MNU in the championship game of the conference tourney on Feb. 27. During the regular season, EU upset then-ranked No. 1 MNU, 79-75, in the Ashcroft Center on Feb. 1 after losing at MNU, 67-60, on Dec. 7. MNU would go on to win the NAIA II national championship.
In Ashcroft Center, Evangel leads the series 15-9. The two teams have split the last four games played in Springfield and EU has won the last two.
| Rank | Team | Conference Record |
Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evangel | 9-1 | 16-4 |
| 2 | MidAmerica Nazarene | 8-2 | 18-2 |
| 3 | Central Methodist | 8-3 | 13-8 |
| William Jewell | 8-3 | 12-9 | |
| 5 | Benedictine | 6-5 | 11-9 |
| 6 | Missouri Valley | 6-6 | 6-15 |
| 7 | Lindenwood | 5-7 | 11-11 |
| 8 | Culver-Stockton | 4-8 | 7-14 |
| 9 | Avila | 3-9 | 6-14 |
| Graceland | 3-9 | 6-15 | |
| 10 | Baker | 2-10 | 5-16 |