The Basics 

Score: Evangel 79, #18 Friends 88

Location: Wichita, Kan. (Garvey Center)

Records: Evangel (3-2, 0-1), Friends (4-1, 1-0)

Box Score 

WICHITA, Kan. -- Evangel Men's Basketball opened conference play on Saturday (Nov. 15) afternoon, taking on the 18th-ranked Friends Falcons, looking to earn a win against a tough squad on the road. Despite a big second half rally, Evangel came up just short, falling 88-79, after a tough shooting performance from long range.

Jacob Lafferty and Garrett Davault opened scoring for EU on Saturday, scoring several baskets to keep pace with the Falcons offense. Lafferty's 14 point first half helped keep the Valor within reach, as both teams stayed within a possession of one another for the majority of the first half. Trailing by two points, 26-24, with 5:45 remaining in the first half, Friends closed the period out on a 15-5 run to take a 42-31 lead over EU into the halftime break.

Evangel did not have any answers for the Falcons offense to open the second half, as Friends jumped out to a 23-point lead with 9:45 remaining in the final half of play. The Valor would slowly begin to chip away into the Friends lead, using several key baskets from Lafferty and Davault, but the lack of three point shooting hurt Evangel's comeback chances. With 38 seconds remaining in the game, a Lafferty basket made it just a six point game, as EU outscored Friends by 17 points in the final nine minutes of play, but it was too little, too late, as Evangel fell 88-79 in their conference opener to #18 Friends.

QUOTABLE 

"I didn't think we came out with the toughness needed to beat a good team on the road. We made a run late, but it was too late," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We need to be better against a good Avila team on Wednesday."

NOTABLE 

• Jacob Lafferty led EU with 27 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

• Garrett Davault rounded out double digit scoring, finishing with 17 points on Saturday.

• Evangel shot 3-22 from three points range in Saturday's loss.

UP NEXT

Evangel MBB travels to Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday (Nov. 19) evening, taking on the Avila Eagles 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.