The Basics

Score: (22) Evangel 83, Culver-Stockton 68 

Location: Canton, Mo. (Charles Fieldhouse) 

Records: Evangel (6-1, 1-0); C-SC (4-2, 0-1) 

Box Score 

CANTON, Mo. -- After going 5-1 through their non-conference schedule, Evangel Men's Basketball set their sights on their conference opener against the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton. Despite playing a fairly tight second half, Evangel's play in the first half was enough to push the Valor to their fifth straight victory, 83-68, over Culver-Stockton.

The Valor raced out to an early 10-2 lead, fueled by five consecutive Edriel Martinborough points in the first four minutes of the game. The Wildcats cut their deficit down to just two points at one point in the first half, but the Valor offense continued rolling, distancing themselves from their conference foe. Leading 30-25, Evangel's Autry Acord nailed a three to begin another solid Valor 14-7 run that ended the half with Evangel ahead, 44-32. Manrique Alvarado, Josh Pritchett, and Martinborough led the Valor with seven points apiece at halftime.

Evangel found their crucial, game winning run to begin the second half. Culver-Stockton was able to reduce the Valor lead to just single digits with 16:24 remaining, but a quick 13-0 run for Evangel, capped off by a Stephen Salvi three pointer pushed the Valor back out to a 64-42 lead. The Wildcats slowly began to fight to narrow the deficit and were able to get the game back down to just a nine point lead for Evangel with 3:55 remaining, but efficient shooting from the Valor in the final four minutes proved detrimental to Culver-Stockton's comeback chances. Evangel missed just two free throws in the final four minutes of the game as they took the win, 83-68.

NOTABLE 

• Three Valor athletes scored in double digits in the win. Alvarado led the way with 16, followed by Martinborough and Salvi, with 15 and 12, respectively.

• Salvi pulled down a team high eight rebounds in the victory.

• Evangel forced Culver-Stockton into 24 turnovers.

• The Valor shot 53.7 percent from the floor in the win.

NEXT UP 

Evangel returns home to host Heart South foe, Park, on Wednesday (Nov. 30) evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Ashcroft Center.

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—