The Basics

Score: Evangel 85, Southwestern 84

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

Records: Evangel (6-9, 3-6); Southwestern (11-4, 5-4)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned home on Wednesday (Jan. 8) evening, looking to put an end to a three game losing skid against a strong conference competitor in Southwestern College. A come from behind effort for Evangel proved successful, as the Valor took an 85-84 win in overtime, behind clutch shots late in Wednesday's matchup.

Evangel and Southwestern played a tightly contested first half, as both teams went into the halftime break knotted up at 30-30. Garrett Davault opened up the first half by generating a 7-2 run of his own, slamming the opening points down and adding a layup and three pointer. A 12-7 run by Southwestern, with the bulk of the run coming from long range, evened the score at 14-14, before the Valor grabbed their largest lead of the first half, taking a 20-14 lead on a free throw from Harrison Doennig as well as a pair of baskets from Isaac Wootton, one being a three pointer. The Moundbuilders closed the half by narrowing Evangel's lead, as SWC took a 30-28 lead with 39 seconds remaining. On Evangel's final attempt of the half, Logan Rodgers scored a tip in basket to force the 30-30 tie at the halftime break.

Southwestern came out fast to open the second half, hitting four consecutive three pointers to take a 42-30 lead over the Valor. Evangel did not back down from the early deficit, fighting back and using a 19-7 run, with baskets coming from six different Valor athletes to tie the game up at 49-49 on a Cade Sutton alley-oop. The Moundbuilders were able to take as much as a nine-point lead over Evangel, before EU made it just a two point game on a Bryce Ware layup with 3:57 remaining. Southwestern hit tough shots down the stretch and with 1:36 remaining a three pointer from the Moundbuilders gave SWC a 71-65 lead. A technical foul on Southwestern swung momentum in the final moments of Wednesday's game, as Carson Cavalier made one of two free throws and then hit an ensuing three point jumper to make it a 71-69 game with 47 seconds remaining. After the Valor forced a turnover, a Cavalier miss found Ty Campbell's hands in the paint and with nine seconds left, the junior nailed a jumper to tie the game up at 71-71. The Moundbuilders failed to score on their final possession, forcing an overtime period.

In the overtime period, both teams traded baskets as a three pointer from SWC made it 75-73 with four minutes remaining. Campbell again came up big, hitting a matching three pointer on the following possession to take a one point lead. Back and forth baskets ensued and again Campbell came up big, knocking down another three point shot to give the Valor a two point lead, 81-79. Evangel's Manrique Alvarado and Ty Campbell both came up big late, nailing free throws to keep the Valor ahead. Leading 85-84, a pair of missed free throws from EU gave SWC a chance, but the final second three pointer came up short of the mark, as the Valor escaped with a come from behind victory, 85-84.

QUOTABLE 

"I was proud of our guys tonight. Tonight's game was probably the toughest we have played all season on both ends of the floor," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Southwestern is a really good team and we knew we needed this game. I thought we had some guys step up and we found a way to get a win in overtime."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led the Valor with 17 points in the win.

• Carson Cavalier (15 pts.), and Ty Campbell (12 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• Campbell finished with a double-double, leading EU with 10 rebounds.

• Manrique Alvarado passed off a team high seven assists.

• Evangel allowed just 14 points in the paint on Wednesday and allowed Southwestern to shoot just 37.9 percent from the floor.

• Wednesday's win was the first overtime win for the Valor since January 31st of 2024 (89-85 win over KWU).

UP NEXT 

Valor MBB concludes their two game homestand on Saturday (Jan. 11) afternoon, hosting the Bethany College Swedes at 2:00 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—