The Basics

Score: Evangel 71, (RV) Columbia 78

Location: Columbia, Mo. (Arena of Southwell Complex) 

Records: Evangel (3-3); Columbia (4-1)

Box Score 

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball hit the road to take on the Columbia College Cougars before taking their Thanksgiving break on Tuesday (Nov. 21) evening. A strong defensive effort by the Valor in the first half helped EU take a lead into the halftime break, but an offensive surge from the Cougars in the second half proved to be the difference as Columbia, a team that was receiving votes in the last NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, took the win over Evangel, 71-78.

After Columbia opened the game with a basket, Bryce Hunt put Evangel on the board, followed by a three from Josh Mason to give the Valor a 5-2 lead. After both teams traded baskets, a tough Stephen Salvi jumper found the bottom of the net as Evangel took a 12-11 lead. The Valor would retain this lead for the remainder of the first half. Strong defensive play in the first half kept the Cougars to just 25 percent shooting from the floor, including 13 percent from beyond the arc. Leading by seven points with just under four minutes remaining in the half, Evangel generated a 7-0 run when Jace Coffie scored a basket, followed by a Carson Cavalier three and a fast break layup for Coffie from Manrique Alvarado, putting Evangel ahead, 37-23, their largest lead of the evening. Columbia would hit a few shots to end the half, as the Valor led, 37-28, heading into the halftime break.

The Valor were able to keep a nine point lead over Columbia for the first two minutes of the half, thanks to a Hunt three. The Cougars began their hot shooting at the 17:47 mark, using a 13-4 run to tie the game at 44-44 with 13:41 remaining. Evangel would retake the lead after the Cougar run thanks to free throws from Coffie and a jumper from Carson Cavalier, but down the stretch of the final 10 minutes, Columbia generated a final run that proved to be too much for the Valor offense to overcome. Evangel was outscored by 15 points in a nine minute span, pushing Columbia to a 61-72 lead over the Valor. The Valor continued to fight in the final minute of play, scoring baskets to narrow the Cougar lead, but the Columbia offensive surge proved to be too much, as Evangel fell, 71-78.

QUOTABLE 

"I thought we played a great first half tonight. Unfortunately, Columbia came out tougher than us to start the second half," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Columbia was able to eventually take the game over down the stretch." 

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led the way for the Valor, finishing with 12 points 

• Evangel shot 35.4 percent from the floor in the loss on Tuesday, their lowest of the season.

• Evangel and Columbia both finished with 45 total rebounds.

• The Valor were outscored by 16 points in the second half.

• Manrique Alvarado and Jace Coffie both finished with 11 points in the loss, rounding out double digit scoring.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will travel to York, Nebraska, on Wednesday (Nov. 29) evening, taking on the York Panthers 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—