The Basics
Score: Evangel 85, MidAmerica Nazarene 78
Records: Evangel (2-3, 1-0), MidAmerica Nazarene (3-1, 0-1)
Location: Ashcroft Center

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Pavel Antonov's career-best 22 points and a pair of big offensive runs sparked the Evangel men's basketball team to an 85-78 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over MidAmerica Nazarene Wednesday evening at the Ashcroft Center.

Antonov scored 17 points and pulled down 10 of his game-high 11 rebounds in the second half to help lift the Crusaders (2-3, 1-0) to their second-consecutive victory. EU scored 13 unanswered points to take control of the contest, then used a 12-0 outburst in the second period to build an insurmountable lead.

EU shot 0.443 (31-of-70) from the floor, thanks in large part to Antonov's 8-of-14 shooting effort. The Crusaders also received a lift from Josh Pritchett and Edriel Martinborough, who combined for 16 first-half points to help EU establish a 13-point lead at intermission.

The Crusaders used a 13-0 scoring run over a three-minute stretch to overcome a cold shooting start to the night. After missing 10 of its first 12 shots from the floor, EU wiped out a four-point deficit by knocking down 11 of its next 14 attempts to seize command.

Trailing 21-17 with just under 10 minutes to play in the half, EU used an Antonov bucket as a springboard to its critical run. The Crusaders converted 6-of-7 shots during the string of 13 unanswered points, ultimately stretching the run into a 27-8 spurt that would hand the Crusaders a 15-point advantage before the break.

EU committed just three turnovers in the opening stanza while shooting 0.486 (17-of-35) from the field. The Crusaders also received balanced contributions from a lineup that featured 10 different scorers over the game's first 20 minutes.

After the break, MNU closed the gap to nine points on a pair of Brady Cameron baskets in the paint, but the Crusaders answered with another big offensive run to distance themselves from the Pioneers once again. Manrique Alvarado drained three-pointers on back-to-back possessions 33 seconds apart to make it a 15-point game, before Antonov scored the next nine EU points to hand the Crusaders their largest lead of the night at 61-39 with just under 12:56 to play.

The Pioneers would pull to within 11 points on Brady's trey, then answered another Antonov bucket with a Blake Spellman triple that made it a 76-66 game with 2:34 left on the clock.

MNU (3-1, 0-1) would draw as close as six points on an Anthony Brown three with 1:15 remaining in the game, but one final Antonov basket and a pair of Martinborough free throws in the final 41 seconds iced the EU victory.

Trey Brown led MNU with 19 points and five assists, while Anthony Brown added 17 points and four helpers. The Patriots struggled from long range throughout the contest, hitting just 9-of-35 (0.257) attempts from beyond the arc en route to their first setback of the season.

Pritchett finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and a game-high six assists, and Martinborough chipped in with 11 points and six boards to help EU finish with a 52-39 advantage in rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders continue a three-game home stretch with a Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. Heart Conference contest against Park.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—