Evan Yates and Connor Gregg have helped to lead MVNU to a 94-32 record over the past four years (.746 winning percentage). The Cougars have reached the 20-win mark all four years and have posted a 50-10 mark at home that includes a 12-1 record this season in the friendly confines of the Physical Education Center. They advanced to the Elite Eight at the NAIA Division II national tournament in 2006 for the second time in school history while tying the school record for wins in a season with 27, and they won a share of the American Mideast Conference South Division title and advanced to the second round of the NAIA Division II national tournament in 2007. This year, MVNU is 21-5 overall and in second place in the AMC South Division with an 8-4 conference mark.

Yates, a 6-foot-5 forward from Lucasville, Ohio, has played in 103 games over the past four years. The former Valley High School standout has scored 272 points and grabbed 257 rebounds to go with 77 assists, 17 blocked shots, and 46 steals. A biology major with a 3.5 grade point average, he was selected as an NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete last season and is up for those honors again this year.

This season, Yates has played in 20 games with one start. He is averaging 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He has scored 10 points on three different occasions this year including in the Cougars’ 76-74 win at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College.

“Evan has contributed to the success of our team ever since his freshman year,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. “Although he has primarily come off the bench, he has been in the game during many crucial times in some of our biggest wins. He has always been one of our better defenders, and he is also a very good rebounder for a player of his size. His versatility has been beneficial for us as we have been able to play him at three different positions. Evan has elevated his game this year and had a solid senior season. I can recall several field goals and free throws he has made at the end of the game when everything was on the line.”

“Evan has also dedicated himself to be a very good student while here at MVNU,” Flemming added. “It is not an easy task being a biology major and playing an intercollegiate sport. I have grown used to him running down to practice after spending the whole afternoon in a science lab. His commitment will bring him success in graduate school and his chosen profession as well.”

Gregg, a 6-foot-7 forward/center from Bellville, Ohio, has played in 93 games the past three seasons after transferring in from Tiffin University following his freshman year. The former Clear Fork High School star has scored 737 points and grabbed 507 rebounds for the Cougars, and he ranks seventh in school history with 87 blocked shots. He has also compiled 63 assists and 48 steals and is shooting 54.2 percent from the field for his career.

This season, Gregg has started all 26 games for MVNU and is averaging 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting a team-best 61.8 percent from the field (118-for-191) to go with 39 blocked shots. He has scored in double figures in 18 games and has registered five double-doubles. He scored a season-high 18 points in a loss at nationally-ranked Hope (Mich.) College, and he went 7-for-7 from the field with 16 points in a win at Shawnee State University.

“Connor will always be known as one of the best athletes we have had at MVNU,” said Flemming. “I remember him asking me when I was recruiting him if we had any alley-oop plays. I told him we had a few, but that we could always add more. We did that and he hasn’t let us down. Some of his dunks have been game-changers that shifted the momentum of the contest. He has been a big part of our success in the past and he has put together an outstanding senior season. We have asked him to play our center position and that has usually matched him up against bigger opponents. He has done a very commendable job in that role.”

“Connor is a great teammate,” Flemming added. “He has a laid-back personality that gets along with just about anybody. He has given me many light moments that I have had a good laugh over. I am glad that Connor chose to come to MVNU, and I believe it has been a great place for him.”

With two games remaining in the regular season, MVNU is battling with Cedarville University, Shawnee State University, and Ohio Dominican University for the AMC South Division’s three playoff spots in the AMC Tournament that gets under way next week.. Besides Tuesday’s game against Rio Grande, the Cougars will travel to Ohio Dominican on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. game to close out the regular season.