The Basics

Score: Evangel 95, Bethel 89

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Records: Evangel (8-8, 6-5); Bethel (8-9, 5-6)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned home on Wednesday (Jan. 17) evening, looking to bounce back in the month of January, as they had lost four straight. A strong shooting first half that saw EU shoot 61.8 percent from the floor helped guide the Valor to the victory over the Threshers, 95-89.

Evangel and Bethel traded baskets to open Wednesday's game, as both offenses were clicking from the start. Bethel would capture a 7-6 lead on a three point make, but a quick three in response from Josh Pritchett would give the Valor the lead back, 9-7. Evangel would never trail again in Wednesday's matchup, as the Valor offense turned it up a notch, keeping the Threshers at a safe distance on the scoreboard. Leading 21-20, Evangel used a 20-7 run over the following eight minutes to take a 41-27 lead over Bethel, their largest lead of the evening. The Threshers would hit several threes to stay within striking distance of the Valor, as EU led, 53-40, at the halftime break.

Bethel came out firing to open the second half, using an 18-9 run to make it just a 62-58 Valor lead. Prichett and Garrett Davault quickly burned out the run, as Josh nailed a three and Garrett converted an-and-one basket to retake a 10-point lead, 68-58. The Threshers would continue to fight over the second half and Evangel would begin to grow colder from the floor, as Bethel would pull within a single point with 2:47 remaining in the game. On Evangel's ensuing possession, Josh Mason found himself open after rolling off a screen, and nailed a three to push EU out to an 84-80 lead. After forcing a Bethel turnover on a Pritchett blocked shot, Josh Mason was left open on the left wing, hitting another huge three pointer for the Valor that helped ice the game, as EU took a 95-89 victory over the Bethel Threshers.

QUOTABLE 

"We came into tonight's game knowing we needed a win. I thought we got back to playing Evangel basketball. We played tough on defense, ran good motion on offense and finished the game," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Give Bethel credit, they're a tough team that competed the entire game and made us work for tonight's win. Proud of our guys!"

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led the way with 24 points, his season high, in the bounce back victory.

• Garrett Davault, Josh Mason, and Carson Cavalier rounded out double-digit scoring on Saturday, scoring 19, 12, and 11, respectively.

• Jace Coffie and Davault led Evangel with seven rebounds.

• Evangel moved back to .500 on the season with the win.

• Evangel's first half helped push the Valor to victory, hitting 61.2 percent of their shots.

• Bethel kept the game close in the first half, hitting nine three pointers to trail by just 13 at halftime.

• Evangel finished with eight total blocks in the game, four from Bryce Hunt and three from Josh Pritchett.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will hit the road once again to take on the ninth ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders on Saturday (Jan. 20) afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in Winfield, Kansas.

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—