Springfield, Mo. – The Evangel men's basketball team, ranked 8th nationally in the NAIA-I preseason coaches' poll, opens the season Thursday at 18th ranked Campbellsville (Ky.).
The Crusaders return two starters and nine lettermen from a team that went 21-13, advanced to the round of 16 in the NAIA-I national tournament and won the Heart of America conference title going 13-5 in the league.
Their season opening game will pit them against a Campbellsville team that went 29-8 last year, advanced to the second round of the NAIA-I tournament and finished the year ranked 8th nationally.
This year's Tigers squad features five NCAA-I transfers: Roderick Lawrence (Mississippi), Erik Kinney (California State-Bakersfield), Ronald Scott (Texas A & M), Sekou Harris (Farleigh Dickinson) and Rob Robinson (Illinois-Chicago).
Campbellsville is already 2-0 and Saturday defeated NAIA-I defending national champion and number one ranked Dalton State (Ga.) 85-73.
Evangel is 1-1 all-time against the Tigers. Last year, Campbellsville beat Evangel 80-70 in the Ashcroft Center on Nov. 6, 2014.
The Crusaders continue their season opening road trip after Thursday night's game. Evangel travels to Chicago for a Saturday game against 21st ranked NAIA-II Robert Morris for a 3 p.m. game. Evangel's first four games are on the road before their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 21 against Grand View at 2 p.m.
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