The Basics

Score: Evangel 75, Bethel 81

Location: North Newton, Kan. (Thresher Gymnasium)

Records: Evangel (4-5, 1-4); Bethel (6-5, 2-3)

Box Score 

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball looked to bounce back after falling on a last second shot on Wednesday against Saint Mary, as EU took on the Bethel College Threshers in a road game on Saturday (Dec. 7) afternoon. A slow start ultimately hurt Evangel, as the Valor nearly fought back, but fell in regulation, 75-81.

Bethel jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Evangel on Saturday, with a Josh Mason three pointer ending the Thresher run. Although the Valor fought to keep pace offensively with Bethel, the Threshers continued to score as Evangel grew cold from the floor. Bethel took as large as a 13-point lead over the Valor with just 7:10 remaining in the first half, forcing Evangel to play from behind for the majority of Saturday's contest. Garrett Davault, Josh Mason, and Carson Cavalier helped the Valor begin to cut the deficit to end the first half, as baskets from the trio helped make it just a seven point deficit at halftime, 36-43.

Bethel was able to hold around an eight-point lead over the Valor for the first 10 minutes of the second half, as both teams traded baskets. With the Threshers leading 65-59, a 7-0 run with baskets coming from Ty Campbell, Harrison Doennig, and Bryce Ware helped give EU their first lead of the afternoon, 66-65, with just 6:13 remaining. After the run for the Valor, it appeared Evangel was in prime position to build on the momentum, but the Threshers continued to score. A Ware basket made it a 72-72 ballgame with 2:21 remaining, but Evangel turnovers and fouls in the final pair of minutes gave charity stripe points for the Threshers as EU was unable to respond, falling 75-81 on Saturday.

QUOTABLE 

"Bethel put us on our heels in the first half with their pressure and pace. I thought we did a much better job in the second half getting control of the game," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We're not doing a great job at finishing games right now. Little mistakes are hurting us and eventually costing us games. We have to get better at that."

NOTABLE 

• Josh Mason led the Valor with 14 points in the loss.

• Garrett Davault (13 pts.), Carson Cavalier (13 pts.), and Bryce Ware (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for the Valor.

• Mason pulled down a team high seven rebounds.

• Bethel outshot Evangel, 43.1 to 38.3 percent, on Saturday.

UP NEXT 

Valor MBB returns to action on Wednesday (Dec. 11) evening, hosting the Ottawa Braves at 7:30 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena.

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—