The Matchup: Evangel (21-7, 13-3 HAAC) at MidAmerica Nazarene (20-8, 14-2 HAAC), Bell Family Arena, Olathe, Kan., 7:30pm

Last Meeting: MidAmerica Nazarene 86, Evangel 85 (1/19/12 at Evangel)

All-Time Series: Evangel leads, 32-29

Last Time Out: Evangel 74, Culver-Stockton 61 (2/18/12 at CSC); MidAmerica Nazarene 80, Missouri Valley 63 (2/18/12 at MVC)

About the Crusaders: Since a 2-3 stretch last month that finished with a heart-breaking, last-second loss to Benedictine, the defending conference champions have done everything they can to stay in the hunt to defend their title. A loss last Thursday by MNU at Baker followed by the Crusaders' win at Culver-Stockton last Saturday set up this penultimate showdown. Two more victories would give Evangel the #1 seed in the upcoming HAAC Tournament due to the tiebreakers. The Crusaders have won the last six by a margin of 14.5 points per game and has not allowed more than 70 points since the first meeting between the two teams back on January 19. Stephen Cotten had one of his four double-doubles on the season in the first meeting with 21 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 3 blocked shots, but he struggled at the free throw line with just 5-of-12 converted. Evangel was excellent from 3-point range last month as they hit 7-of-13 (.538), but allowed 16 offensive rebounds and lost the overall battle on the glass by a 38-27 ledger to snap a 17-game home court winning streak. The Crusaders will want to set a more defensive tone in the rematch and try to slow down the high-octane home side. Senior point guard Cale Ramsey will be an integral part of that process and is coming off a career-high 7 steals against Culver-Stockton.

About the Pioneers: A loss last Thursday at Baker took away the insurance that head coach Rocky Lamar and his team had going into the home stretch of the regular season. Instead, the Pioneers face a pressure-packed rematch against a battle-tested team with everything to play for. MNU has assured itself an automatic berth into the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament next month, as has Evangel, but neither team will be satisfied with anything less than the top spot. The nation's top field goal percentage team has weapons both inside and outside while also creating a number of easy baskets for itself with its up-tempo style. The half-court offense has been boosted by the steady play of sophomore G Conner Langrehr, who is averaging just under 15 points per game and has been scoring at a 17.3 per game clip over the past 7 contests. He has also hit 9-of-21 (.438) from 3-point range over the last four games, giving the Pioneers another outside threat to go along with leading scorer Rustin Dowd. It was Dowd who delivered in the first meeting with two free throws with one second left to give the Pioneers the win.

Free Throws: Between Lamar and Evangel head coach Steve Jenkins, the two long-time program chiefs have combined for 57 years of service to their programs, 1166 victories, two national titles and 16 conference crowns ... In their games last Saturday, Evangel was 0-for-11 from 3-point range while MNU was 7-for-14 ... Jayme Donnelly is #2 in the NAIA in 3-point percentage (.481) ... The Pioneers are #2 in the NAIA in 3-point percentage defense (.275) while ranking 6th in 3-point shooting on the offensive end (.388) ... Cale Ramsey needs five steals to become the all-time career leader at Evangel and is averaging over 3.6 steals per game over the last eight contests ... Rustin Dowd is 4th in the NAIA in 3-point field goal percentage (.473) and is four points shy of 1,500 for his career to sit 16th on the MNU all-time scoring list, sitting 16 points behind David Peterson, a current assistant with the women's program ... Evangel is 14-0 this season when winning the rebounding battle and holds a +1.5 margin for the season ... MNU point guard Nick Syrie had 13 assists against Evangel back on January 19, the most by a HAAC player this season.