The Basics 

Score: Evangel 85, College of the Ozarks 54

Location: Point Lookout, Mo. (Keeter Gymnasium)

Records: Evangel (3-1), C of O (0-1)

Box Score 

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- After nearly a week removed from countable competition, the Evangel Men's Basketball team returned to action to take on their longtime rival, College of the Ozarks, in Point Lookout on Thursday. Having taken three straight wins in the series, the Valor men used a dominant defensive effort on Thursday, holding the Bobcats to just 54 points and taking a 31 point road victory to extend their streak to four, 85-54.

Evangel opened Thursday's contest on a 8-0 run, with five points coming from Jacob Lafferty and another three coming from Garrett Davault. A 8-2 run by the Bobcats brought C of O just two points shy of EU's lead, but a pair of Drew McMillin three pointers killed the home crowd's momentum, re-giving the Valor an eight point lead, 16-8. Offense proved to be at a premium for C of O in the first half, as at the ten minute mark, EU led 20-10. The Valor offense continued to run their motion and defensively were able to hold the Bobcats below twenty points until a three pointer with two minutes left in the half made it a 29-20 ballgame, in favor of EU. A three from Harrison Doennig, paired with a jumper from Lafferty, and a buzzer-beating three pointer from McMillin helped EU take a 37-22 lead into the halftime break.

C of O would cut Evangel's lead down to 12 early in the second half, but Garrett Davault began to warm up offensively, scoring several baskets in the paint to help re-extend Evangel's lead. The Bobcats had no answer for Evangel's offense and the Valor continued to force C of O turnovers, as Cole Griesemer, Tommy Pinegar, and Ty Campbell had big halves, helping the Valor cruise to a 85-54 road victory.

QUOTABLE 

"C of O is a good offensive team and I was really proud of our defensive effort tonight," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Offensively, we're getting better. We just have to keep staying the course."

NOTABLE 

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

• Jacob Lafferty (14 pts., 10 reb.) finished with a double-double and Tommy Pinegar (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• Evangel forced 20 C of O turnovers and held the Bobcats to 27.8 percent shooting from three point range.

UP NEXT

Evangel MBB opens conference play next Saturday (Nov. 15) afternoon, taking on the 24th ranked Friends Falcons at 3:00 p.m. in Wichita, Kansas.

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.