The Basics
Score: Evangel 60, (RV) Columbia 77
Location: Columbia, Mo. (Arena of Southwell Complex)
Records: Evangel (9-4), Columbia (11-2)
Box Score
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Evangel Men's Basketball hit the road to close out 2025, taking on a tough Columbia Cougars squad, who were receiving votes in the most recent top 25 poll. Despite a back and forth first half, turnovers paired with cold shooting from the floor ruined Evangel's chances of an upset win, falling 77-60, in Columbia.
Evangel would trail 6-2 early in Wednesday's contest, but a 6-0 Valor run, with baskets coming from Harrison Doennig and Jacob Lafferty, helped EU capture their first lead of the afternoon, 8-6. Doennig scored Evangel's next four points, but Columbia was able to seven points to their total, taking a 13-12 lead over the Valor. Both teams began to grow cold from the floor, as both defenses made it hard to add points to the scoreboard. A three pointer from Luke Foster evened the score at 18-18, but Columbia was able to respond by retaking the lead, which they held to the halftime break, 31-26.
Lafferty nailed a three pointer to open the second half, bringing Evangel within two points of the Cougars, 31-29. Columbia was able to respond by extending their lead back out to eight points, before Lafferty again helped to will Evangel back into the game, scoring five consecutive points to make it a 39-36 contest. An Isaac Wootton three pointer gave EU 41 points at the 11:31 mark, but Evangel grew cold after, as they spent nearly five minutes scoreless. Columbia took advantage of the scoring drought, taking as large as a 62-41 lead over the Valor, with 6:58 remaining in the game. Three pointers from Ty Campbell and Lafferty helped Evangel attempt to cut into the deficit, but the late drought proved to be too much, as Jarren Harrell closed scoring for EU with a three pointer, falling 77-60, on the road.
QUOTABLE
"I thought we guarded and rebounded well in the first half," head coach Bert Capel stated. "As the second half went along some things didn't go our way and we never quite recovered. We'll learn from it and move on."
NOTABLE
UP NEXT
Evangel MBB returns to action on January 3rd, taking on the McPherson College Bulldogs 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.
