The Basics

Score: Evangel 81, Ottawa 90

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Records: Evangel (7-6, 5-3); Ottawa (9-5, 4-4)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned home on Saturday (Jan. 6) afternoon, looking to rebound from their loss on Wednesday. Despite starting off very strong on both sides of the ball and leading by as much as 17 in the game, the Valor struggled offensively in the second half, as they fell to Ottawa, 81-90, after the Braves hit 14 threes, including 11 after EU took the 17-point lead.

Evangel came out strong in the first half, as it appeared they would begin to run away with Saturday's game. Several baskets, including four threes helped Evangel push out to a 33-16 lead over the Braves, the largest lead of the afternoon by either team. After Josh Prichett nailed a pair of free throws, Ottawa completely shifted momentum. A 24-10 Braves run over the final six minutes closed out the first half, as instead of a large lead, the Valor had just a three point advantage over Ottawa, 43-40. 

The Ottawa offense would not be denied in the second half, as Evangel struggled to score. After tying the game up at 47-47, Ottawa hit multiple threes to retake the lead. Despite Garrett Davault scoring 13 points in the half alone, the Valor only hit one three in the final seconds of the half, as the Braves took control of the match, forcing EU into their second consecutive loss, 81-90.

QUOTABLE 

"We've come out the last two games playing well. Unfortunately, we hit a wall in both of those games and just have to find a way to fight our way through it," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We'll get there. We just have to take it one game at a time." 

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault scored 19 points to lead Evangel in the loss on Saturday, his career high.

• Josh Pritchett (14 pts.), Jace Coffie (12 pts.), Carson Cavalier (11 pts.), and Josh Mason (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Saturday.

• Davault led Evangel with eight rebounds.

• Pritchett passed off six assists to lead the Valor.

• Evangel shot just twenty percent from the three point line, compared to Ottawa's 41.2 percent. The Braves scored nine more threes than the Valor (14-5).

NEXT UP 

Evangel will hit the road to take on eighth ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 10) evening.

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.