The Basics

Score: Evangel 75, Sterling 87

Location: Sterling, Kan. (Gleason Center)

Records: Evangel (7-5, 5-2); Sterling (9-3, 5-2)

Box Score 

STERLING, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned to action after a three week break on Wednesday (Jan. 3) evening, taking on the Sterling College Warriors. The Valor opened the game with a strong run, taking an early lead over Sterling, but the Evangel offense would grow cold from the floor as the Warriors began to hit several tough shots. EU could never recover from a big Warriors run in the first half as the Valor fell in their first road conference game of the season, 87-75.

The Valor opened the game by jumping out to a 10-point lead on three separate occasions. At the 10:35 mark of the game, Josh Mason cut to the basket on a fast break to give Evangel a 10-point lead, 24-14, over the Warriors. Sterling would respond with a large 23-7 run to end the first half, putting the Warriors in control of the game at halftime, 37-31.

A three from Manrique Alvarado in the opening moments of the second half made it just a two point Sterling lead, 39-37, but this would be the closest the Valor would get the rest of the game. Every run that Evangel attempted to make would be washed out by a Warrior three pointer, as Sterling hit 13 total three pointers on the night, including six in the second half. After the final buzzer had sounded, Evangel had fallen in their first road conference loss of the season, 87-75.

QUOTABLE 

"I thought we came out great from the start. As the half went along, Sterling picked up the intensity and took the lead," head coach Bert Capel stated. "They (Sterling) never looked back from there and we never got it back." 

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett scored 17 points to lead Evangel in the loss on Wednesday.

• Garrett Davault (14 pts.), Carson Cavalier (13 pts.), and Josh Mason (11 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday.

• Pritchett led Evangel with six rebounds and four assists.

• Bryce Hunt recorded two blocks.

• Evangel shot 46.8 percent from the floor, just shy of Sterling's 49.2 percent.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will take on the Ottawa Braves on Saturday (Jan. 6) afternoon at 4:00 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—