The Basics
Score: Evangel 77, Tabor 75 (OT)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)
Records: Evangel (4-3, 1-2), Tabor (2-6, 0-3)
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Men's Basketball took on the Tabor College Bluejays in a home matchup on Saturday (Nov. 22) afternoon, looking to bounce back after dropping their first two games in conference play. In what proved to be a back and forth game, Evangel would come out victorious in overtime, 77-75, despite a cold shooting night.
Evangel jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, using a basket from Jacob Lafferty and a three from Ty Campbell to earn the advantage. Tabor tied the game up at 5-5 six minutes in, before taking a five point lead over EU, 11-6. The Valor grew cold from the floor, shooting just 23 percent in the first half, as Tabor took as large as an 11-point lead, 31-20, with just over four minutes remaining. Drew McMillin helped will Evangel back into the game, as EU trailed by six at the halftime break, despite the poor shooting half, 32-26.
It took 10 minutes of action in the second half to earn a tie with Tabor on the scoreboard, as a pair of free throws from Tommy Pinegar made it a 47-47 game. Pinegar was able to come away with a steal and threw the ball up ahead to Lafferty, who slammed it home, giving EU a lead. Another Lafferty basket made it 51-47, in favor of EU. Baskets by McMillin and Lafferty kept EU in the game, before Garrett Davault began to heat up late. Tabor tied the game up at 67, before another Davault basket gave EU a 69-67 lead. On Tabor's final possession, the Bluejays were able to tie the game up and a McMillin three at the buzzer came up short, forcing overtime on Saturday.
Tabor took a one point advantage early into the overtime period, before a pair of Lafferty free throws pushed EU ahead, 73-72. Evangel's defense forced a stop before a flagrant foul on Tabor allowed Ty Campbell to shoot a pair of free throws that he made, extending EU's lead to 75-72. Three consecutive free throws from Tabor tied the game up at 75 with just over a minute remaining. Davault was able to score a tough basket before Tabor missed with 16 seconds remaining, but the Bluejays secured the rebound for one final shot. The Bluejays would miss their final shot of the contest, giving EU a 77-75 win in overtime on Saturday.
QUOTABLE
"We made a lot of mistakes during the game from missed layups to blown defensive assignments to not executing correctly at times," head coach Bert Capel stated. "However, I was proud of our effort down the stretch to find a way to win the game. We'll correct those mistakes and get better for next time."
NOTABLE
UP NEXT
Evangel MBB remains at home to host the Mission Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 25) night.
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.
