The Basics

Score: Evangel 81, Kansas Wesleyan 80

Location: Salina, Kan. (Mabee Arena) 

Records: Evangel (3-2, 2-0); Kansas Wesleyan (4-4, 1-1) 

Box Score 

SALINA, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball traveled to Salina, Kansas, on Saturday (Nov. 19) evening, looking to defeat the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes and move to 2-0 in conference play. After taking a narrow one point lead into the halftime break, Evangel used a large run to take an 18-point lead in the game. Despite the large lead, the Coyotes would not back down as Evangel was able to survive the scare from KWU, taking an 81-80 win on the road against the second ranked team in the conference preseason poll.

Kansas Wesleyan opened the game with a 4-0 run, but jumpers from Bryce Hunt, Josh Pritchett, and a three pointer from Josh Mason put the Valor ahead, as the four point lead early for KWU was their largest lead of the evening. Both teams would trade baskets throughout the first half and the Coyotes would retake the lead, 40-37, with 2:37 remaining in the first half. Carson Cavalier would hit two clutch threes to end the half to help the Valor retake the lead heading into the halftime break, 43-42.

The first ten minutes of the second half were dominated by the Valor offense. Evangel would outscore the Coyotes by 16 points in the first ten minutes (26-10), as a Logan Rodgers basket put EU ahead, 69-52. Kansas Wesleyan responded with a 20-4 run of their own over the next six and a half minutes to only trail by a single point, after Evangel began to turn over the basketball and began to cool off from the floor. A Bryce Hunt basket with just under three minutes remaining put the Valor ahead, 76-73, but KWU used a 4-0 run to take the lead at 77-76 with 1:15 remaining. After a pair of missed free throws for the Valor, Josh Pritchett came up big for Evangel, grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring to put EU ahead, 78-77. Pritchett used the next possession to hit on a pair of free throws and then with the Valor ahead, 80-77, Pritchett again came up big on the boards, grabbing an offensive rebound and getting fouled to put the Valor ahead, 81-77, with six seconds remaining. KWU hit a volleyball line three to make it an 81-80 game, but the Valor inbounded the ball to take the win, 81-80, in a quality road win for Evangel.

QUOTABLE 

"I was very proud of how our guys played tonight. I thought we let up mentally down the stretch, but found a way to finish the game," head coach Bert Capel stated. "I give them (KWU) credit, they fought hard all the way until the end of the game." 

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led the way for the Valor, finishing with 17 points 

• Evangel shot 45.5 percent from the floor in the win on Saturday.

• Evangel outrebounded the Coyotes, 46-39, including two big offensive rebounds by Pritchett on the final possessions.

• KWU forced Evangel into 16 turnovers.

• Josh Mason and Carson Cavalier both finished with 10 points in the win, rounding out double digit scoring.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will travel to Columbia, Missouri, on Tuesday (Nov. 21) evening, taking on the Columbia College Cougars at 7:00 p.m.

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—