The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 71, (RV) Peru State 76

Location: Peru, Neb. (Al Wheeler Activity Center) 

Records: Evangel (22-8); Peru State (24-6) 

Box Score 

PERU, Neb. -- After taking a narrow victory on Thursday night to the Central Methodist Eagles in the Heart Conference Tournament Quarterfinals, Evangel Men's Basketball hit the road to take on the two-seeded Peru State Bobcats, looking to pull off the upset on the Bobcats home court. Despite a slow offensive first half, Evangel rebounded and forced overtime, but fell short of claiming the victory after scoring just four points in the overtime period, 76-71.

Evangel opened the game with a nice lob play to Edriel Martinborough that gave the Valor an early 2-0 lead. Peru State evened the score, but back to back threes from Josh Pritchett and Manrique Alvarado put the Valor ahead, 8-2, in the first four minutes of the game. Peru State countered with a 7-0 run of their own, taking their first lead of the game, 9-8, with 13:03 remaining in the first half. Both the Valor and Bobcats traded baskets for the duration of the first half, but after a Peru State basket to go ahead 26-25, the offenses grew cold. Several missed shots and turnovers by both sides kept it a one point game, until a Jace Coffie free throw and PSU free throws made it a 28-26 game. The Valor found their best motion offense opportunity in the final possession of the half, finding Garrett Davault cutting to the basket and tying the game at 28 apiece. On the following Peru State possession, the Bobcats nailed a three in the final six seconds, taking a 31-28 lead into the halftime break.

Pritchett and Martinborough opened the second half, scoring Evangel's first nine points to take a 37-33 lead. Neither team could take much of a lead, as offense came much easier than the first half for both sides. As baskets continued to be traded, a Coffie jumper and layup, followed by a Pritchett layup gave Evangel a five point lead with 6:42 remaining in the game, 59-54. For the next four and a half minutes, Peru State narrowed the Evangel lead and each basket that was scored put one team up by a single point. With 2:07 remaining, the Bobcats scored a layup to take a 65-64 lead. On the following Evangel possession, the Valor used up the majority of the shot clock. Pritchett drove in with four seconds remaining and although the ball appeared to touch the basket, the shot clock never reset and led to a shot clock violation. After review, the officials agreed it had not touched the rim, leading to a loss of possession for the Valor. Peru State nailed a pair of free throws to take a three point lead after and the Valor needed a three point play to force overtime. Alvarado proved to be the man for the job, driving in and scoring an and-one layup through tough contact and sinking the free throw to tie the game up. Peru State had an opportunity to score before the buzzer, but missed the layup, leading to overtime for both teams.

The Bobcats scored the first three points of the overtime period before Alvarado hit a jumper in the lane, narrowing PSU's lead to a single point. After no scoring for a couple of minutes, Pritchett came away with a steal, but was then tripped up by a Peru State defender, leading to him losing the ball. No foul was called and the turnover led to two points on the other end, giving the Bobcats another three point lead. The very next possession, Pritchett was fouled while shooting a three, hitting the first two free throws, but missing the final one, making it a 72-71 PSU lead. The Bobcats played solid defense in the final minute and a half, not allowing another Valor bucket to be scored. A pair of free throws gave PSU a 74-71 lead, and left Evangel with one final chance to even the score with just 10 seconds remaining. The ball would be inbounded to Alvarado, but in an attempt to foul, the Peru State defender knocked the ball loose as no foul was called, leading to a two point basket for the Bobcats, and solidifying the Peru State win over Evangel, 76-71.

NOTABLE 

• Pritchett led Evangel with 21 points.

• Coffie finished with a team high nine rebounds.

• Evangel shot just 20 percent from three.

• The Valor missed eight free throws in the loss.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will await the NAIA National Tournament Selection Show on Thursday (Mar. 2) evening at 7:00 p.m., to see where they will travel for the opening round of the national tournament on Tuesday (Mar. 7) evening.

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—