2015-16 MEN'S BASKETBALL
Evangel Crusaders (7-22, 6-15) at #18 Peru State Bobcats (20-9, 16-5)
Game # 30 / Heart Game # 22 – Sat., Feb. 27 – 4 p.m.
Peru, Neb. – Wheeler Center (2,500)
Evangel Live Broadcast Coverage:
Live Audio: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/evangel/
Game Notes
Season ends for EU at #18 Peru State: Evangel will play their final game of 2015-16 at Peru State and, for the second straight game, will challenge a team vying for the Heart of America conference regular season title.
Peru State enters the final game of the regular season in a three-way tie for first place in the league. The Bobcats are 20-9, 16-5 in the conference and ranked 18th in NAIA-I. On the last day of the season, they are even with MidAmerica Nazarene and William Penn for the top spot in the league. The Pioneers are at home Saturday against Grand View while William Penn is home against Baker.
Evangel is 7-22 and 6-15 in the Heart of America. The Crusaders are in 12th place in the league and cannot move into the conference's top 10 to make the postseason tournament. In their last game and final home game of the season, Evangel took down 10th ranked MidAmerica Nazarene 83-59 on Wednesday. The MNU loss dropped them from sole possession of first place in the league standings.
The Crusaders play a ranked team for the sixth time this season on Saturday and, despite going 7-22 on the year so far, they have a winning record against ranked opponents this season. The Crusaders are 3-2 against ranked teams in NAIA-I. They are, however, 0-6 against teams below .500. Last year, the Crusaders lost to a below .500 team for the first time in three years snapping a 29 game winning streak against teams with losing records. Entering this year, Evangel had won 37 of their previous 39 games against teams with below .500 records as they went 8-2 last year in that category.
Evangel's 20-loss season is their first since 1995-96 when they finished 9-23 and in 7th place in the conference standings. This year also marks the first time since 1989 Evangel has not advanced to the postseason in the conference, NAIA District 16 or the NAIA national tournament. Their worst finish since joining the Heart of America conference in 1988 was 7th (1996 and 1998).
Peru State won the earlier meeting this season with a 96-76 win at the Ashcroft Center on Jan. 11. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 8-2 but have won all four games at Peru State since the Bobcats joined the conference in 2011-12.
