The Basics

Score: Evangel 67, Sterling 65 

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

Records: Evangel (13-15, 10-12); Sterling (14-14, 9-13)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball hosted the Sterling College Warriors on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon for senior day and a win or go home matchup as both teams sat tied for the last conference tournament spot. An inspired final minute and a half of play helped the Valor overcome as high as a 14-point deficit in the second half, taking a 67-65 win over Sterling. With a Bethany loss against Friends, the Valor secured the eighth seed in the upcoming KCAC conference tournament quarterfinals.

Senior Manrique Alvarado opened scoring on Saturday, making a pair of free throws to give Evangel an early 2-0 lead. Neither team could score a basket early, as free throws were the only points scored for nearly four minutes of play. A three pointer from senior Carson Cavalier gave EU a 6-4 lead, the first basket scored by either team at the 16:15 mark. Sterling would score a pair of baskets, but back-to-back jumpers from Logan Rodgers kept the game deadlocked at 10-10. Bryce Ware kept Evangel close to Sterling on the scoreboard, as both teams traded the lead on several occasions. With the Warriors leading 21-20, a 9-0 Sterling run hurt Evangel, as the Valor trailed 30-20 with 3:51 left in the first half. Seniors Stephen Salvi and Alvarado broke the run and scoring drought, as Salvi nailed a three and Alvarado hit a jumper to make it 30-25. The Warriors ended the first half with several trips to the free throw line, as EU again grew cold from the floor, trailing 37-27 at halftime behind just 31 percent shooting.

In the second half, senior Logan Rodgers and Garrett Davault made early plays to narrow the Sterling lead back to single digits, but Sterling responded with big shots of their own, taking their largest lead at the 10:35 mark, 55-41, over EU. The Valor did not back down, fighting tooth and nail and knowing that they needed a win to have a potential chance at the final spot in the conference tournament. Free throws from Harrison Doennig as well as a three pointer from senior Josh Mason helped EU draw within nine points. Ty Campbell scored a nice back door layup with a feed from Doennig to make it 55-48, with 9:05 remaining in the contest. Sterling scored a pair of back-to-back baskets, to extend their lead back to 12 with 6:34 left. The Valor continued to fight, but could only get the Sterling lead down to five points on a pair of occasions. With a minute and a half left, Sterling led 64-59. Evangel regained possession at the 1:14 mark and a free throw from Davault made it a 64-60 game, before a missed one-and-one free throw from Sterling gave EU the ball and an ensuing Salvi and-one basket, making it 64-63, with 24 seconds remaining. A traveling violation on the inbounds by Sterling gave Evangel life and on the following possession, Mason threw a nice pass to a cutting Davault who scored the go ahead basket and was fouled, hitting the free throw to give the Valor a 67-64 lead. EU fouled on Sterling's final possession and needing to make one and miss intentionally, the Warriors did just that, but were unable to get the game winning and game tying shots to go, as the Valor escaped with a 67-65 victory on senior day.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm so proud of how our guys finished the game. We did not shoot it great, but we kept fighting and found a way to make plays at the end," head coach Bert Capel stated. "It was a great way for our seniors to go out at home. Time to get ready for postseason basketball!"

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led EU with 12 points in the win on Saturday.

• Manrique Alvarado passed off a team high four assists.

• Stephen Salvi pulled down a team high six rebounds.

• The Valor shot just 35 percent in the win on Saturday, but outscored the Warriors, 40-28, in the second half of play.

UP NEXT 

Evangel returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 26) evening, taking on the #1 seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles at a time to be announced in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, looking to take an upset win and advance to the conference tournament semifinals.

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.