Box Score Story by Mike Bennett, special contributor to www.evangelathletics.com
Call it a refreshing Saturday afternoon.
Evangel ended its three-game homestand on a high note with a 80-51 victory over Culver-Stockton in men's basketball.
Both of the Valor's home losses this season came on Saturday afternoons.
Not this time: Losing became a non-issue very quickly in Ashcroft Center. The Valor were never threatened after leading 38-21 at halftime.
The Wildcats' only lead came at 3-2 with 18:13 left in the first half. Evangel held a double-digit lead for the final 25 minutes.
"I thought we played well in all facets of the game," said Coach Bert Capel, who took his 41st victory in two seasons. "I liked the energy on the bench. We played well the whole 40 minutes. That's something we hadn't done in a while."
Evangel had a 21-9 advantage in turnovers, led 39-34 in rebounds, 9-6 in treys and shot 46.2% (30-for-65). The aggressive defense held the Wildcats to just 35.4% on field goals (17-for-48).
Graduate guard Edriel Martinborough led Evangel with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Junior guard Manrique Alvarado had 11 points and five rebounds and senior guard Autry Acord 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Autry boosted his NAIA-leading total of steals to 85 for the season. He's averaging 3.5 per game.
Senior Josh Pritchett and freshman Garrett Davault scored eight apiece and junior Jace Coffie had seven points, four rebounds and two assists.
Junior Stephen Salvi totaled a game-high seven rebounds and junior Bryce Hunt a game-high four assists.
"I think we are headed in the right direction now," Capel said. "As long as we are playing and executing together, it doesn't matter who puts up the numbers. Sometimes people just get hot."
Evangel rose to 19-5 overall and maintained second place in the Heart Conference with a 14-4 record. The Valor won the last two games of their longest home stretch of the season. The Wildcats dropped to 8-15 and 4-14.
The Valor now play three of the last four regular-season games on the road.
They play at Central Methodist at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. The Eagles were 13-9 overall and 10-6 in the Heart coming into their game on Saturday.
One of those losses came by the score of 99-84 at Evangel on Jan. 16.
"They are playing well," Capel said about the Eagles. "To stay in second spot, we'll have to find ways to win. That's for sure on Wednesday."
Evangel is 6-2 in conference games this season that are away from Ashcroft Center. "The whole year we've done really well on the road," Capel said. "We have to win away from home. We have to be tough and we have to guard. That gives us a chance."
