The Basics

Score: Evangel 92, Sterling 67

Location: Sterling, Kan. (Gleason Center)

Records: Evangel (9-11, 6-8); Sterling (10-10, 5-9)

Box Score 

STERLING, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball traveled to Sterling, Kan., on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon, to take on the Sterling Warriors in search of a bounce back victory after a tough loss on the road to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Wednesday night. Evangel used a strong shooting night and defensive performance to take a 92-67 win over Sterling.

The Valor came to play in the first half, using strong offensive and defensive play to jump out on the Warriors. Evangel was able to jump out to a 9-0 lead, using baskets from Stephen Salvi, Garrett Davault, and a three pointer from Carson Cavalier to take the early advantage. Sterling was able to cut the Valor lead down to five points, 12-7, with 15:16 left in the half, but again, Evangel put forth a run and used strong defense to keep Sterling off the scoreboard. Baskets from Cade Sutton, Bryce Ware, and Harrison Doennig pushed Evangel out to as much as a 25 point lead before a Cole Griesemer three pointer put EU ahead 44-16. A Luke Foster jumper to end the first half gave EU their largest lead of the game, 52-23, as the Valor were shooting 65.6 percent from the floor in the half compared to Sterling's 32.1 percent.

Manrique Alvarado and Stephen Salvi did all the scoring for Evangel in the first four minutes of the second half, giving the Valor a 60-34 lead. Harrison Doennig and Ty Campbell both hit three pointers and from there, Cade Sutton took over, scoring every Evangel point from the 11:20 mark to 5:30 remaining in the game, as Evangel led 81-59, after Sutton's run. Josh Mason and Dane Foster added baskets for the Valor to close out the game as Evangel cruised to a 92-67 victory on Saturday.

QUOTABLE 

"Today was the best we have played on both ends the entire season. We were locked in and executed well against a good Sterling team," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Now we just have to stay consistent with it and finish the season strong."

NOTABLE 

• Cade Sutton scored a career high, leading the Valor with 19 points in Saturday's win, also pulling down a team high six rebounds.

• Stephen Salvi and Harrison Doennig scored 12 points while Garrett Davault added 11, rounding out double digit scoring for EU.

• Bryce Ware passed off a team high six assists.

• Evangel shot 63.2 percent in the win, their highest shooting percentage of the season.

UP NEXT 

Valor MBB concludes their road trip on Wednesday (Jan. 29) evening in Ottawa, Kan., taking on the Ottawa Braves at 7:30 p.m.

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—