The Basics

Score: Evangel 78, Saint Mary 87

Location: Leavenworth, Kan. (Ryan Sports Center)

Records: Evangel (7-8, 5-5); Saint Mary (7-9, 3-7)

Box Score 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball concluded their road trip on Saturday (Jan. 13) afternoon, traveling to Leavenworth to take on the Spires of Saint Mary. Despite having a lead at the halftime break, USM hit several threes and outscored the Valor in the second half, using an early run in the half to take a lead that Evangel could not overcome, falling 87-78, on the road.

Evangel opened the game with a hot start, pushing out to a 16-9 lead in the first seven minutes of Saturday's match. Over the span of a minute and a half, the Spires had completely flipped the game around. An 11-0 run by USM gave the Spires a 20-16 lead, shifting momentum into the home team's favor. The Valor tied the game up at 20-20, but again, the Spires would generate a run to take a lead. USM would take a 31-24 lead over Evangel, but over the final seven minutes of the half, the Valor would fight back. Garrett Davault and Broc Smith would use strong offensive play to push EU back to the lead, as Evangel would take a 43-42 lead into the halftime break after a back and forth first half.

The Spires took the lead to open the second half and Evangel would never retake the lead in the game. Jace Coffie scored a basket with 15:10 remaining in the second half, making it just a two-point deficit for EU, 53-51. USM would push out to a double digit lead just two minutes after. The Valor would get the deficit down to just six points in the second half with 4:31 remaining, but could not come any closer to taking the lead, as they fell on the road, 87-78. 

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led the way with 22 points, his career high, in the loss.

• Broc Smith and Josh Pritchett rounded out double-digit scoring on Saturday, both putting up 13 points for EU.

• Bryce Hunt led Evangel with eight rebounds.

• This is Evangel's first four game losing streak since January of 2021.

• Evangel outshot Saint Mary's from the floor in the loss, shooting 49.1 percent, but the Spires hit 12 threes, compared to Evangel's three.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will return home on Wednesday (Jan. 17) evening, taking on a tough Bethel Threshers squad at 7:30 p.m. in the Ashcroft Center.

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—