Posted: Feb 18, 2015
Central Methodist (18-8, 8-6) at #18 Evangel (16-9, 11-3)
Thursday, Feb. 19 - 7:30 p.m. CT
Springfield, Mo. - Ashcroft Center
Live Video and Stats: CMUEagles.com
Twitter: @cmueagles
FAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist looks for its third-straight, regular-season win in the Ashcroft Center when the Eagles travel to No. 18 Evangel (Mo.) for a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) game Thursday, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
Fans not travelling to Springfield, Mo., can follow the game via live video and statistics online and through updates on Central Methodist's Twitter account (@cmueagles).�
The Crusaders have won seven of their last eight games in the Ashcroft Center after starting the season 0-2 at home. Evangel ranks second in NAIA Division I in free throw percentage (0.755), 15th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.383), 25th in defensive rebounds per game (26.8) and 37th in assists per game (14.2). Korry Tillery ranks second in defensive rebounds per game (8.1), fourth in rebounds per game (10.8), 10th in scoring (493), 34th in free throw percentage (0.801) and offensive rebounds per game (2.7) and 40th in field goal percentage (0.498). Richard Chapman is 39th in 3-point field goal percentage (0.415).
Tillery, the reigning HAAC Player of the Week who has averaged 21.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in conference play, totaled 24 points and 16 rebounds in an 87-68 win over the Eagles in Fayette on Jan. 15. However, he did foul out in both contests in Springfield last season against coach Jeff Sherman's squad.
Central Methodist Notes
Central Methodist has won two-straight games over a ranked Evangel squad in the Ashcroft Center and limited the Crusaders to 40 percent or less from the field in each contest.
The Eagles have been ranked or receiving votes in the last five NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Polls.
Sherman's unit sits one game behind No. 17 Benedictine (Kan.) and Missouri Valley for second place in the HAAC but just one game ahead of Culver-Stockton (Mo.) and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) for sixth. Six teams are within two games of each other for second place in the league standings with four to play.
Mitchell Farr has averaged 25.0 points and shot 50 percent (11-of-22) from distance in two career games in the Ashcroft Center. He scored a team-high 13 in the loss at home to the Crusaders in the first matchup this season.
Central Methodist leads NAIA Division I in assists (448) and ranks fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.3), eighth in 3-point field goals made (225), 13th in scoring margin (12.4) and rebound margin (5.7), 16th in scoring offense (2104), 20th in rebound defense (33.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (0.374), 21st in turnover margin (2.5) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (0.314), 22nd in offensive rebounds per game (12.8), 24th in scoring offense per game (80.9), 25th in scoring defense per game (68.5) and 27th in field goal percentage (0.462).
The Eagles are 19-9 in their last 28 conference games.
Cody Anderson ranks third in NAIA Division I in assist/turnover ratio (3.3) and 44th in assists per game (3.5). Farr is 11th in 3-pointers made (72) and 41st in scoring (406). Scott Stegeman is 18th in offensive rebounds per game (3.0) and 19th in rebounds (200).
Central Methodist is coming off a 101-97 overtime win over Avila (Mo.) where Stegeman scored a career-high 25 points and tied a career-high with 14 rebounds.�
In the win over Avila, Central Methodist blistered the nets in the second half to the tune of 70.8 percent (17-of-24). Sherman's squad was also 12-of-13 from the free throw line in the period.
The Eagles are 12-2 when Quinten Hunter scores 12 or more points in a contest.
Central Methodist is 16-4 when making at least 10 free throws in a game and in its latest win Saturday converted a season-high 26 on 32 attempts.
Mike McCode has scored in double figures in 14 of the last 15 games.�
McCode has shot 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the charity stripe in the last six games, and Sherman's squad is 5-1 during that stretch. McCode tied a season-high with seven made free throws in Saturday's win.
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