The Basics

Score: (20) Evangel 81, (RV) Baker 72 

Location: Baldwin City, Kan. (Collins Center) 

Records: Evangel (10-2, 5-1); Baker (9-2, 4-1) 

Box Score 

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. -- After falling on Saturday to Mount Mercy, Evangel Men's Basketball needed a solid bounce back win. The win would not come easy against a Baker squad that entered the game 4-0 in conference and receiving votes in the most recent top 25 poll. Exceptional free throw shooting and rebounding helped the Valor grab their bounce back win, 81-72.

Despite scoring the first points of the game on a three, Baker grew cold from the field, thanks to solid Evangel defense. The Valor racked off a 15-2 run in the first eight minutes of the game, taking a 15-5 lead. Evangel was able to maintain their lead, but several stoppages of play cooled the Valor offense off and played a factor in Baker cutting down the early deficit. Baker was able to regain the lead with three minutes remaining in the first half and each team would continue to trade baskets. A three by Baker was countered by two free throws by Josh Pritchett, who made a living from the line, as Baker took a slight 33-32 lead into the halftime break.

Baker and Evangel traded baskets to begin the second half, but a Bryce Hunt layup at the 17:33 mark gave the Valor a 38-37 lead that they held for the remainder of the match. An 18-8 run fueled by Pritchett threes and free throws, as well as a Stephen Salvi three helped extend the Valor lead to 11 points, 56-45, with 11:51 remaining. Three pointers by Edriel Martinborough and Manrique Alvarado in the second half pushed EU to a 12 points lead, their biggest of the game. Through the final six minutes of the half, Baker's offense began to heat up, and the Wildcats were able to narrow the game down to just four points with 27 seconds remaining, but free throw makes by Autry Acord, Pritchett, and Alvarado solidified the victory for the Valor, 81-72.

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led Evangel with 26 points in the win.

• Pritchett tied the Evangel record for consecutive free throw makes in a game, shooting 17-17 from the charity stripe, tying Korry Tillery and Jackson Capel's record.

• Autry Acord extended his lead over the country in steals, taking away six in the win and moving himself into third place all-time in a career in Evangel history with 175.

• Baker shot better from the floor percentage wise, hitting 40 percent to Evangel's 35.

• Stephen Salvi pulled down a team high eight rebounds.

• Evangel is now 5-0 against ranked or receiving votes teams this season.

NEXT UP 

Evangel returns home to host Peru State in the Ashcroft Center on Saturday (Dec. 17) afternoon at 4:00 p.m. for their final game of 2022.

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—