The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 84, USAO 90

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center) 

Records: Evangel (0-2); USAO (2-1) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball played host to the USAO Drovers on Monday (Nov. 6) evening, looking to bounce back after a tough road loss to a strong William Woods squad. After trailing at halftime, Evangel fought back to take a lead late, but a scoring drought in the final three minutes of the game hurt Evangel's chances, as they fell, 90-84, to the Drovers.

After Josh Pritchett opened the game with a score in the paint and Josh Mason hit a three, Evangel took a 5-2 lead over USAO with 18:34 remaining in the first half. This was Evangel's largest lead of the evening. Both teams battled with back and forth play as USAO's Anthony Ray willed his team to score, scoring 21 points in the first half alone. A Bryce Hunt three off the glass with 9:44 remaining again put Evangel ahead by three, 25-22, but USAO would meet every Valor run with scores of their own. With 2:53 remaining in the first half, USAO took a seven point lead that they would maintain to the end of the first half as the Drovers nailed a buzzer beating three to lead, 51-44, at halftime.

USAO opened the second half with a small run as the Drovers took their largest lead of the night (13 pts.) with a 61-48 lead with 16:38 remaining in the game. Stephen Salvi began to lead Evangel back into the game scoring four points in back to back possessions, followed by a Josh Mason jumper to cut the USAO lead. A 4-0 run by Garrett Davault followed by a Broc Smith three put Evangel down by just five points, 69-64, with 11:24 remaining. On a pair of possessions, EU would narrow USAO's lead down to just two points, and a Logan Rodgers layup with 6:48 remaining tied the score at 75-75. After back and forth baskets between both teams, Josh Pritchett nailed a three pointer with 3:36 remaining to tie the game, 82-82, and the following possession, nailed a pair of free throws to give Evangel an 84-82 lead with 3:07 remaining in the game. After the free throws, Evangel grew cold from the floor. In the final three minutes of the game, the Valor shot 0-6 from the floor, as USAO began to hit tough shots to retake the lead. After failing to score on their ensuing possessions, Evangel ran out of time, falling 90-84 in their home opener.

QUOTABLE 

"I appreciate all the fans coming out this evening for our home opener. We had a great crowd that came out to support our guys," head coach Bert Capel stated. "I am so disappointed in our toughness and defense. I'm really not sure how to put it into words but our first two games this season isn't what Evangel Basketball is all about and it's going to be something we have to fix if we want to think about winning this season." 

NOTABLE 

• Josh Mason led the way for the Valor, finishing with 16 points 

• USAO outshot Evangel on Monday, hitting 60 percent of their shots to Evangel's 48.5%.

• Evangel was outrebounded 38-24 on Monday.

• Both Evangel and USAO scored 12 points off turnovers.

• Josh Pritchett (15 pts.), Jace Coffie (14 pts.), and Garrett Davault (12 pts.), rounded out double digit scoring for the Valor.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will play host to John Brown on Friday (Nov. 10) evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Ashcroft Center, in search of their first win of the season.

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—