The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 73, (4) Oklahoma Wesleyan 68 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (3-1), Oklahoma Wesleyan (4-1)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Story by Mike Bennett, Special Contributor to Evangel Athletics

Barometers. Benchmarks. Yardsticks.

Pick your term. Evangel University was looking to find out how it measured up against a nationally ranked team on Monday night.

The answer was very well, indeed. 

The Valor used a second-half scoring surge and all-game intensit  to hold off No. 4-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, 73-68, at Ashcroft Center.  

In winning the confidence-builder, the Valor hit critical 3-pointers and then six consecutive free throws on 1-and-1 situations in the last 30 seconds.

They turned a poor first-half shooting effort into 18-for-27 in the second half. They hit 7 of 10 3-pointers after going 2 of 11 in the first half. 

Junior guard Manrique Alvarado led the second-half charge with 18 of his game-high 20 points as Evangel improved to 3-1. He swished  a critical 3-pointer with 1:03 left and then four free throws to help seal the victory.

Alvarado also made four steals and four assists.

Junior guard Stephen Salvi swished three 3-point field goals and another field goal in the opening minutes of the second half to help provide Evangel's first lead – and the Valor never let off the gas on both sides of the court after that.

"They made several big shots," Coach Bert Capel said about Alvarado and Salvi. "We did a really good job of fighting against a good team."

Salvi agreed: "It was a great win. It was a great confidence-booster."

His first trey put Evangel ahead at 29-27 just 1:19 into the second half. 

"We didn't give up," said Salvi, who totaled 13 points. "We just stuck with our game plan."

That plan was simple: Make rebounds. Make good shots. Maintain intensity.

At the end, it was to hold off the inevitable surge by a physically and mentally tough team. 

The score moved back and forth until the Eagles moved ahead again – at 47-45 – with 11:29 left. 

The Valor then surged and built a nine-point three times, the first when junior forward Jace Coffie made a twisting layup for a 58-49 lead with 8:35 left. He made another layup for a 60-51 lead with 6:05 left. OWU countered and Alvarado scored from close to make it 62-53 with 5:30 left.  

Evangel's intensity and opportune scoring overcame some late turnovers and the Valor then held off an intense charge by the Eagles, who lost for just the first time this season after four victories.

OWU led by six points for several minutes in the first half, but Evangel's face-up defensive intensity slowed down the Eagles and made up for many missed layups and open outside shots.

The Valor rallied to trail only 25-24 at halftime.    

Capel said they weren't sharp and the intensity was missing in their opening twi wins and a loss. "We had to bring it, play harder. Our efforts showed that tonight," he said. "When we do that we are a very good team. This needs to be the standard. We have to have that same mindset every game."

Senior guard Josh Pritchett totaled 10 points and four assists and Coffie had nine points and a team-high six rebounds. 

Autry Acord scored six and made five rebounds.

Forward Brandon Bird led the Eagles with 16 points and post player Jaden Lietzke added 15.

The Valor return to action on Monday night to face another strong team in 13th-ranked Science & Arts (Okla.) on the road.

The win was an extra sweet victory sponsored by Saint George's Donuts for every Evangel win over a nationally ranked opponent. Oklahoma Wesleyan was ranked No. 4 before Monday's game.