The Basics

Score: Evangel 69, Ottawa 70

Location: Ottawa, Kan. (Wilson Field House)

Records: Evangel (16-10, 14-7); Ottawa (16-11, 11-10)

Box Score 

OTTAWA, Kan. -- Evangel Men's Basketball traveled to Ottawa on Wednesday (Feb. 21) evening, looking to continue their strong play of late and earn their ninth consecutive victory. Despite leading by 18 with just 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Valor offense would stall out, as the Braves would go on a pair of large runs to even the score. The game would come down to final possessions where the Valor came up empty handed, falling on the road, 70-69.

Both teams would play a back and forth first half, but the Braves would lead for the majority of play in the period. Josh Pritchett opened the game up scoring several of Evangel's baskets, scoring nine points in the first six minutes of Wednesday's game. Trailing 27-23, the Valor would end the half on a 16-3 run over the final 5:30 of the game, sparked by solid offensive play. At the halftime break, Evangel took a 39-30 lead into the locker room, looking to expand their lead in the second half.

The Valor dominated the first seven minutes of the second half, out-scoring the home Braves by nine points to race out to a 54-36 lead on a Manrique Alvarado jumper with 13:06 remaining in the game. Ottawa would go on a 27-7 run over the next 10 minutes to retake the lead, 63-61 over the Valor, as Evangel did not record a single field goal make in the span. With 1:32 remaining in the game, Evangel's Josh Mason scored to put EU back ahead, 67-63. The significance of the basket was that it was Evangel's first field goal make over the span of 12 minutes and 34 seconds. With the Valor leading 67-66, a missed shot and offensive foul on back-to-back possessions resulted in Ottawa re taking the ball. The Braves would capitalize, taking the lead over EU and with the Valor trailing by a single point, 70-69, the Valor would create contact but fall short of the make, taking a 70-69 loss on the road.

QUOTABLE 

"I thought we were playing well on both ends of the floor, getting up by as much as 18. They (Ottawa) started changing up their defense to try and stop us as well as getting a lot more physical," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We couldn't score there for a while and never quite got the game under control. Give Ottawa credit, they played hard and found a way to come back and win the game."

NOTABLE 

• Josh Pritchett led the Valor in the win, scoring 19 points. Pritchett also led the team with 15 rebounds, finishing with a double-double in the loss.

• Evangel was outrebounded by the Braves on Wednesday, 41-38.

• Evangel shot 38.3 percent from the floor in the loss, including just 27.6 percent in the second half.

NEXT UP 

Valor MBB takes on the nationally ranked #4 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles for senior day on Saturday (Feb. 24) afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the final regular season game 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.