The Basics
Final: Baker 64, Evangel 60 | Final Stats
Records: Evangel (9-4, 3-2); Baker (6-5, 2-2)
Site: Ashcroft Center

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Baker rode a 23-point night from Jalen Patterson and a shutdown defensive effort to pull out a 64-60 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Evangel Wednesday evening at the Ashcroft Center.

After EU battled back from an early nine-point deficit to even the score with just over five minutes left on the clock, Patterson spearheaded a 9-1 BU run with five points over the ensuing two minutes to help seal the outcome.

Patterson tallied 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, knocking down all eight of his free-throw attempts on a night when offense proved hard to come by. Baker connected on just five of its first 21 field-goal attempts of the second half, but rebounded to hit 4-of-5 shots during the game's critical stretch that saw the Wildcats build a 58-50 lead.

Evangel clawed its way back from one deficit after another all night long, but could not overcome a frigid shooting performance in dropping its second-straight Heart Conference contest. The Valor shot 0.361 (22-of-61) for the game and connected on just 9-of-18 free-throw attempts, after entering the matchup shooting 0.671 from the line as a team.

The Baker defense put the clamps on EU's long-range game, limiting the Valor to just 7-of-25 (0.280) shooting from three-point range. BU also outscored EU by a 26-18 margin in the paint, as Kobe Buffalomeat added eight points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Wildcats.

Cade Coffman led Evangel with 15 points, while Josh Pritchett chipped in with 14 points, seven boards, five assists and two steals. Jace Coffie delivered a strong effort off the bench, knocking down several clutch shots and totaling 10 points—all in the second half.

The nip-and-tuck battle ensued almost from the opening tip, as the two offenses traded big early scoring runs in a first half that featured five lead changes. Baker grabbed control of the contest with an early 10-0 scoring run, taking advantage of a slow start by the Evangel offense to build a 15-6 lead five-and-a-half minutes into the contest.

Evangel answered with 11 straight points of its own to reclaim a two-point edge on Manrique Alvarado's short jumper in the paint with 10:15 left in the half. The sophomore guard had started the run with a drive to the basket, before Pritchett sank a three-pointer and back-to-back Coffman buckets knotted the score at 15-15.

But the Wildcats had a response, riding a trio of three-pointers—including two by Mason Dukes—to a 28-21 cushion with just under six minutes remaining on the clock.

Despite converting just 3-of-13 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, the Valor used long balls by Coffman and Stephen Salvi to trim its deficit to 32-29 heading into intermission.

Baker, which entered the night having dropped three-straight games, extended its lead back to seven on a Michael Brooks layup and a pair of Patterson free throws early in the second stanza. EU gradually chipped away at the deficit, drawing to within 38-35 on a Coffie three-pointer with just under 14 minutes to play.

Pritchett would follow with one of his three successful three-point tries on the night with 10:33 to play, cutting the BU advantage to just two points.

After the Wildcats pushed the lead back to five on a Xavier Elam three, the Valor recorded seven of the next nine points, drawing even on two Alvarado charity tosses with 5:19 to play.

But Patterson answered immediately with a jumper from just inside the free-throw line, moments before BU came up with a steal and an Akeen Woods basket in transition to start its game-clinching run.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following a two-week holiday break, the Valor will return to action with a Dec. 30 exhibition contest against cross-town rival Missouri State (12 p.m.) at JQH Arena, followed by a New Year's Eve road trip to mid-Missouri to take on Columbia College (3 p.m.).

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelValor, Twitter (@EvangelValor), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the Evangel Athletics Gameday App through the App Store or Google Play.

—#OneValor—