The Basics

Score: Evangel 72, Friends 83

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

Records: Evangel (2-2, 0-1); Friends (4-1, 1-0)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball opened conference play on Saturday (Nov. 16) afternoon, hosting the Friends Falcons, in search of their first conference win of the season. Friends shot well, shooting over the 50 percent mark, as Evangel could not keep up offensively, ultimately falling 83-72 on Saturday.

Evangel scored a pair of threes and added free throws to take an early 10-8 lead over the Friends Falcons on Saturday. Carson Cavalier, Manrique Alvarado, and Garrett Davault led Evangel offensively in the first 10 minutes of the first half, scoring on the majority of the baskets made, as they led 22-18 with under 10 minutes to play. Ty Campbell came off the bench and made a difference on the floor by fighting through contact to earn free throw shots, shooting 4-5 from the line in the first half. Despite Evangel leading 32-27 with just under six minutes to play, the Falcons made a 14-2 run to take a 41-34 lead over Evangel. Friends continued to score as the Valor ultimately trailed 44-38 at the halftime break.

Within the first six minutes of the second half, Evangel was able to draw within a pair of points on a three pointer from Carson Cavalier, 52-50. A 10-2 Falcons run stopped Evangel from taking momentum and running with it, as the Valor trailed by double digits with just 7:31 remaining in the game. Cade Sutton nailed a three to try and reignite the Valor offense, but with nearly every Evangel make was a Friends basket of their own. Despite trailing by as much as 12, the Valor continued to fight and a basket with under a minute remaining from Garrett Davault made it just a five point game, 77-72, but again, Evangel could not find that key defensive stop, as Friends scored a few late baskets, en route to Evangel's loss, 83-72.

QUOTABLE 

"With two of our veteran guys out tonight, we needed our younger guys to step up. I thought they played okay. Friends toughness and experience was better than ours down the stretch," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We couldn't find ways to get stops or hit open shots when we needed it. We'll learn from this game and get ready for Avila on Wednesday."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault scored a season high 25 points in the loss.

• Carson Cavalier (13 pts.) and Manrique Alvarado (11 pts.), rounded out double digit scoring for the Valor.

• Logan Rodgers recorded six rebounds to lead EU.

• Evangel shot 36.9 percent from the floor, in comparison to Friends' 52.5 percent.

• The Valor were without seniors Josh Mason and Stephen Salvi in the loss.

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—