The Basics
Score: Evangel 90, Avila 66
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)
Records: Evangel (5-4, 4-1); Avila (2-5, 1-4)
Box ScoreÂ
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball hosted the Avila Eagles on Wednesday (Dec. 6) evening, looking to rebound after a tough loss on a late basket last Saturday to McPherson. After a narrow first half, Evangel brought energy coming out of halftime, scoring 43 points and holding Avila to just 24 points in the final half, coasting to a 90-66 victory in the Ashcroft Center.
Avila came out the gates hot, using a 10-2 run to quickly get ahead of the Valor. The Eagles were able to get ahead by nine with 16:16 remaining in the first half, Avila's largest lead of the evening. A three by Manrique Alvarado helped wake the Valor offense up, as it opened up a 12-3 run for Evangel to tie the game, 16-16. Once the Valor captured the lead on a Bryce Hunt and-one dunk, 30-27, Evangel never looked back in the first half. A three by Alvarado helped Evangel take an 11 point lead with 3:17 remaining in the half. Avila would fight back in the quarter to push the Valor lead down to just five points, heading into the halftime break, 47-42.
The Eagles were able to retake the lead in the second half, 52-51, but 11 minutes and seven seconds of no field goal makes for Avila hurt their chances to keep their lead. Evangel used that 11:07 to go on a 31-4 run, taking a 85-56 run, as multiple Valor athletes recorded makes in the run. A free throw by Josh Mason with 3:00 minutes left gave Evangel their largest lead of the evening, 90-60, as the Valor were able to cruise to a 90-66 win over the Eagles at home.
QUOTABLEÂ
"I didn't think we played with much energy in the first half. We regrouped at halftime and came out much better in the second half," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We need that type of energy in both halves moving forward."Â
NOTABLEÂ
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Manrique Alvarado scored 15 points to lead Evangel in the win on Wednesday.
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Jace Coffie (12 pts.), Bryce Hunt (11 pts.), Josh Mason, Stephen Salvi, and Josh Pritchett (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday.
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Pritchett led Evangel with seven rebounds.
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Coffie led the Valor with five assists.
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Evangel shot 57.1 percent from the floor, their highest mark of the season.
NEXT UPÂ
Evangel will travel to Lindsborg, Kansas, to take on the Bethany Swedes on Saturday (Dec. 9) afternoon at 2:00 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. Â
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