The Basics

Score: (13) Evangel 65, Mount Mercy 74

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Records: Evangel (9-2, 4-1); MMU (3-6, 1-4)

Story by Mike Bennett, contributor to www.evangelathletics.com

It was one of those dark Saturday afternoons, when an ominous fog seemingly descended upon 13th-ranked Evangel University,

And Mount Mercy – with a 2-6 record coming in - became a cool killer of winning streaks.

The Mustangs built a double-digit lead in the second half and diligently held on to take a 74-65 victory at Ashcroft Center.

The loss ended a eight-game winning streak and was only the second of the season – and first in five games at home – for Evangel, which now is 9-2 overall and 4-1 in the Heart Conference.

Mount Mercy moved to 1-4 in the Heart.

Evangel couldn't pair positive possessions enough to mount a serious comeback. Field-goal and free-throw attempts rimmed out and fast breaks broke down. Foul calls hurt. 

All was happening as Mount Mercy hit 14-of-26 field goal attempts and 13 free throws in the second half.

The Valor were held to 22-for-60 on field-goal attempts for 36.7% for the game. They hit 6-for-27 on treys for 22.2 percent.  

Every second-half basket was celebrated by the Mustangs as the frustrations built for the Valor. 

Evangel had trouble penetrating the post and misfired after some long possessions.

The Valor raced to a 5-0 lead in the first 32 seconds on a trey by graduate guard Edriel Martinborough and a layup by senior guard senior forward Josh Pritchett, but that was the advantage highlight of the game for the Valor.

The teams then seesawed to halftime with Evangel holding a slim 33-31 lead.

"They played very well. They came in and hit shots and we didn't," said Coach Bert Capel.

"We keep trying to remind guys we can't take teams for granted. You remind guys, warn guys and get them ready. If you play with fire, eventually you will get burnt."

Pritchett scored the first points of the second half after a steal, but Rusmir Hamzic tied it with a pair of field goals and Mount Marty scored nine more consecutive points to move ahead 44-35.

Evangel moved back within five with 9:04 left after a pair of free throws by Bryce Hunt, but could draw no closer the rest of the game.

"This game, we just didn't have it," Capel said. "We were slow to react all game. We should have moved the ball and gotten a better look. We kept settling for first shots. They didn't fall and we never really adjusted."

The Mustangs took their first-double-digit lead at 55-45 with 7:24 left and increased it to 15 points at 64-49 with 3:10 to go. 

Evangel closed to within nine at 70-61 with 47 seconds left. 

Hamzic led Mount Mercy with 22 points, including 3-for-5 on trey attempts.

Pritchett led Evangel with 15 points, two steals and two assists, while junior guard Stephen Salvi had 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Martinborough, Hunt and freshman guard Garrett Davault scored eight points apiece.

Senior guard Autry Acord made five steals, one better than his nation-leading average in NAIA basketball. He also made four rebounds, two assists and was 4-for-4 in free throws.

The Valor return to action with a Heart game on Wednesday night at Baker (Kan.). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30.

Baker defeated Peru State 75-73 in overtime on Saturday and is 4-0 in the Heart.