About
Matt
One of five seniors on the squad ... ORU's tallest player
(along with like-sized newcomer Mickey Michalec) ... When healthy he has proven
to be a talented big man ... Can run the floor, score and rebound ... Has a nice
touch away from the basket ... Capable of knocking down 3-pointers ... Needs
just eight blocks to move into school's career Top 10 ... Ranked seventh in the
Mid-Con in blocked shot average (0.67).
2003-04 Highlights (Junior)
Played in 24 games and made 15 starts, including 12 times in
the last 15 games ... Had arguably the best game of his career in the 87-81
overtime win over Valparaiso at the Mabee Center, scoring a season-high 14
points and grabbing a career-best 13 rebounds against the eventual conference
champs. His offensive rebound and put-back with four seconds left forced the
extra stanza ... Missed two games early in the season due to a flu-like illness
but returned to help ORU defeat cross-town rival Tulsa ... Had five
double-figure scoring games, including back-to-back efforts at Oakland (12
points, 6 rebounds) and at IUPUI (14 points, 11 rebounds, third career
double-double) ... Missed the Chicago State game (2/19/04) after having back
spasms in pre-game warm-ups ... Came off the bench the next two games before
returning to the starting line-up against UMKC in the first-round of the Mid-Con
Tournament in Kansas City.
2002-03 Highlights (Sophomore)
Played his best over the last month of the season, averaging
6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and shooting 62.5 percent (25-of-40) from the field in
that span ... Began February with a 14-point (7-of-10 FG) effort in a road win
over Western Illinois. Also had four rebounds and a block against the
Leathernecks on Fox SportsNet ... Followed with a career-high tying
18-point (7-of-9 FG, 4-of-5 FT), six-rebound performance in the home win over
Chicago State, playing 18 minutes ... Solid in the Mid-Con Tournament loss to
UMKC, scoring eight points (4-of-7 FG), and grabbing five rebounds ... Scored
seven points, hitting his first career 3-pointer, and grabbed two rebounds in 18
minutes of action in the win over Arkansas ... Also played well at Tulsa,
hitting both of his field goal attempts (one a 3-pointer) to finish with six
points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 17 minutes off the bench ... Played a
season-high 23 minutes against Maryland-Baltimore County in the College of
Charleston Tournament.
2001-2002 Highlights (Redshirt Season)
Limited to just 37 total minutes through five games due to
severe asthma condition ... Season-highs of 13 minutes, three points, two
steals, and a block in ORU's 115-63 win over UT-Arlington on Dec. 17 ... Coaches
announced intentions to seek a medical redshirt over Christmas break.
2000-2001 (Freshman)
Outside of two games he played with the flu, Gastel ended his
true freshman campaign as one of ORU's hottest players ... Had just three
double-figure scoring nights in his first 16 games before reeling off six
consecutive games in double-figures from Feb. 1 - Feb. 17 ... Averaged 14.2
points and 8.0 rebounds, while shooting 62.7 percent (32-51) from the field in
that span ... After playing an average of just 15 minutes (due to the flu) and
scoring just two points in a pair of late-season conference losses at UMKC and
Southern Utah, he scored nine points in the regular-season finale against
Binghamton and added 10 points (5-6 FG) in the semi-final loss to Southern Utah
at the Mid-Con Tournament ... Posted a career-high 18 points and added six
rebounds against Western Illinois on Feb. 15... Followed that with a 17-point,
career-high 12-rebound effort to notch his first "double-double" in win over
Chicago State two nights later ... Helped ORU knock off Big 12 foe Nebraska in
the season-opener, scoring 11 points and contributing career-high three blocks
... Missed consecutive home conference games against Oakland and Valparaiso due
to a concussion ... Led the team with a .555 field goal percentage.
High School
Played for head coach Scott Padek at nearby Jenks High School
... Averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game during his high
school career ... Named to the Jenks and Putnam City Invitational all-tournament
teams ... Was chosen as a Jim Thorpe and Faith 7 All-Star ... Named All-State,
as well as second team All-Metro and All-Conference ... An excellent student ...
Principal's Honor Roll all four years.
