The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 76, William Woods 86

Location: Fulton, Mo. (Anderson Arena) 

Records: Evangel (0-1); William Woods (2-0) 

Box Score

FULTON, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball opened their 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday (Oct. 31) evening, taking on a tough William Woods squad on their home court. Looking to take a win in their season opener, Evangel fought hard with William Woods, using a second half comeback to draw close to the Owls, but ultimately fell, 86-76.

After William Woods opened the game with a basket, Evangel's Manrique Alvarado countered with a three pointer of his own, giving Evangel a 3-2 lead at the 18:31 mark of the game. This would be Evangel's lone lead of the game. A 12-0 William Woods run would push the Owls out to a 14-3 lead. Garrett Davault would break the Owls run, scoring a basket of his own. Evangel struggled offensively, only scoring 10 points at the halfway point of the first half. With William Woods leading 27-14, Evangel generated a 9-0 run to fight their way back into the ball game. A pair of Bryce Hunt free throws were followed by a Josh Mason jumper, free throw by Logan Rodgers, and jumpers by Alvarado and Josh Pritchett to bring EU to within four points, 27-23. Evangel was able to draw within three points of the Owls, 32-29, with three minutes remaining in the first half, but William Woods would end the half on a run, as the Valor trailed, 42-31, heading into the halftime break.

Evangel did not match William Woods pace to open the second half. Multiple made shots by the Owls put Evangel in a 16 point hole, 52-36, with 16:21 remaining in the ball game. A timeout by head coach Bert Capel helped wake the Valor up offensively, as they continued to fight against a very good William Woods squad. After a Josh Mason three, Evangel's Jace Coffie began to take over. Coffie generated an 8-0 run of his own for the Valor, capped off by a Logan Rodgers three and Garrett Davault jumper to put Evangel right back into the game, 54-52, with 12:21 remaining in the game. Both teams traded baskets until a Josh Mason three put Evangel within a single point of the Owls, 60-59, with 9:41 remaining. After Mason's three, Evangel began to grow cold from the field, as William Woods heated up. A 12-2 Owls run over a four minute span hurt Evangel's chances of staying in the game. The Valor were ultimately able to draw within four points, 80-76, after a Bryce Hunt made three with 27 seconds remaining, but on the next possession, William Woods was able to cut backside, scoring a basket to take a six point lead and on the ensuing Valor possession, EU turned it over. By the time the final buzzer had sounded, Evangel had fallen, 86-76, to the William Woods Owls.

QUOTABLE 

"I was really disappointed with how we started the game. After we took that first punch, I thought we responded well," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We just couldn't finish the game against a really good William Woods team on the road. We'll be ready for the home opener on Monday." 

NOTABLE 

• Jace Coffie came up big for the Valor, helping push them back into the game this evening, leading the team with 19 points.

• Both teams shot well overall this evening, with William Woods having the slight edge, 54.7 percent to 53.2 percent.

• Offensive boards hurt Evangel, as they were outrebounded 13-6 on the offensive glass.

• William Woods recorded 14 second chance points, compared to Evangel's five.

• Garrett Davault (13 pts.), Josh Pritchett (12 pts.), and Josh Mason (11 pts.), rounded out double digit scoring for the Valor.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will look to bounce back in their home opener on Monday (Nov. 6) evening, taking on the USAO Drovers at 6:00 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—