The Basics

Score: Evangel 89, (RV) Kansas Wesleyan 85 (OT)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Records: Evangel (11-9, 9-6); Kansas Wesleyan (15-6, 12-3)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned home on Wednesday (Jan. 31) evening, facing off with the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes in a crucial conference matchup, as the Valor attempted to take a win over a team that was receiving votes in the previous top 25 poll. A narrow back and forth battle between a pair of strong competitors resulted in an overtime victory for the Valor on Wednesday, 89-85.

Evangel came out hot, scoring on three consecutive baskets, including a Garrett Davault dunk to take an early 6-0 lead, but the Coyotes would immediately answer by scoring six points of their own to tie the game up. For the duration of the first half, both teams would trade baskets, as slim one to two point leads proved to be the majority of the half. A pair of free throws from Davault with 7:11 remaining in the game gave the Valor a four point lead, 22-18, but that would be Evangel's largest lead since the opening 6-0 run, as a Josh Pritchett free throw gave EU a 33-32 lead heading into the halftime break.

The Valor and Coyotes would continue their fervent back and forth pace in the second half, as both teams continued to trade baskets. With the game tied up at 43-43, a 7-0 Valor run, fueled by baskets from Jace Coffie, Broc Smith, and Manrique Alvarado would give EU a 50-43 lead with 11:23 remaining in the half. Kansas Wesleyan would not back down at this point, continuing to fight, using a 10-0 run to retake the lead, 53-50, over Evangel. At this point, the Coyotes of Kansas Wesleyan began to take complete control of the game, leading by as much as seven points with just 1:37 remaining in the game. The Valor would not back down, as Josh Pritchett nailed a three, followed by a Jace Coffie tip-in and a Garrett Davault layup with five seconds remaining to tie the game and force an overtime period, 73-73.

After a KWU basket opened the overtime period, Evangel's Pritchett would take over. A layup was followed by a three to put EU ahead, 78-75. The Valor offense would prove to be efficient in the overtime period, as they would not turn the ball over, never allowing the Coyotes to attempt to retake the lead. EU nailed several clutch free throws down the stretch to take a 89-85 victory over the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, taking the upset victory against the receiving votes squad.

QUOTABLE 

"I was disappointed with how we executed down the stretch of the second half. I thought we were undisciplined and didn't think we handled our emotions well. However, I'm proud of the guys for making some big plays at the end of regulation to force overtime," head coach Bert Capel stated. "In overtime, I thought we executed well and found the way to finish against a really good Kansas Wesleyan team."

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led the Valor with 26 points in the win.

• Garrett Davault and Jace Coffie rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel on Wednesday, scoring 18 and 15 points, respectively.

• EU outrebounded KWU, 44-39, on Wednesday.

• Evangel completed the season sweep of Kansas Wesleyan with the win, after defeating the Coyotes on the road in the second conference game of the season.

• Evangel shot just 28 percent from three in the win, hitting several clutch shots down the stretch of the game.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will host the York Panthers on Saturday (Feb. 3) afternoon at 3:00 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—