Story by Mike Bennett, special contributor to www.evangelathletics.com

Energy. That's what Evangel University always needs from him – and from each other.

So knows junior guard Manrique Alvarado.

He certainly provide energy on offense Saturday, hitting 5-for-5 on treys and leading the Valor with 17 points in a 75-62 victory over Grand View on Senior Day at the Ashcroft Center.

"That is my job. I need to always show up with energy – scoring points, making assists, setting screens. We're happy with all of them," he said. "What feeds me is winning. This one was very important."

It certainly was vital in many respects: 

The Valor reached 20-6, the second straight 20-win season under Coach Bert Capel. "Twenty is that magic number because it puts you in national consideration," he said. "Now, we have to finish up by winning our last two games on the road."

They held service in their quest for finishing in second place in the Heart Conference by boosting their record to 15-5. "It puts us in a great spot for the rest of the season," Alvarado said.

They held off a charge by the Vikings that cut a 21-point lead to a precarious five – at 63-58 – late in the game. The Valor responded with a 12-4 game finishing run – a trey by Edriel Martinborough, a stuff by Josh Pritchett, a 3-point play by Jace Coffie, a layup by Pritchett and two free throws by Autry Acord.

That quartet of players made big all-around impacts: 

Acord made seven steals to raise his NAIA-leading total to 95. Acord also broke the Evangel record for career steals in the win. He totaled eight points, four rebounds and three assists.

Coffee scored 14 points, made four rebounds and one block.

Pritchett scored 11 points and made six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Martinborough scored 10 points and made four assists and four rebounds.

Bryce Hunt hit 4-for-4 on field goals and scored eight points. Stephen Salvi had a team-high six rebounds. 

"I thought that the first group was really good today, played together, played really hard," said Capel, who now has 42 victories over his two seasons. "We knew we needed to win. We have been playing good basketball."

Jacob Koontz led the Vikings (6-20 and 4-16 in Heart) with 17 points. "We knew they always are a tough team," Alvarado said. "They keep fighting."

Evangel forced 23 turnovers, led 34-32 in rebounds, made 13 steals and hit 10-of-22 on trey attempts (45.5%).

The Valor play MidAmerica Nazarene (12-7) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, then finish at Mount Mercy (4-15) at 4 p.m. Feb. 18.

Evangel and Peru State are tied in second place with 15-5 records and Baker is a half-game back at 14-5 after falling 68-65 at Graceland on Saturday. The top four teams host first-round games in the Heart playoffs.