The Basics

Score: #8 Evangel 81, #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan 100 

Location: Bartlesville, Okla. (Mueller Sports Center)

Records: Evangel (13-16); Oklahoma Wesleyan (23-6)

Box Score 

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- Valor Men's Basketball hit the road on Wednesday (Feb. 26) evening, taking part in the KCAC Conference Tournament Quarterfinals after earning the eight seed on Saturday. EU took on the #1 seeded Eagles of Oklahoma Wesleyan, looking to pull off the upset of the tournament. Despite Evangel hanging tough with the Eagles and leading midway through the second half, Oklahoma Wesleyan closed Wednesday's game out on a 13-1 run over the final three and a half minutes to take a 100-81 win over EU, ending Evangel's 2024-25 season.

Playing without starting point guard Manrique Alvarado, the Valor would trail early, 11-2, before the offense warmed up, getting key three point makes from Josh Mason and Harrison Doennig off the bench to trail by just two points, 19-17. The Eagles hit several three pointers to take a double digit lead, but Carson Cavalier came through, hitting a pair of triples for EU to trail 35-30. OKWU responded with a 9-0 run to take a 44-30 lead and the Valor trailed by double digits the remainder of the first half until Bryce Ware made a pair of free throws, making it a 57-49 game at the halftime break.

Garrett Davault, Mason, and Ware opened the second half by fueling a 17-8 run for the Valor to take their first lead of the evening, 66-65, with 13:23 remaining. After OKWU retook the lead, both Ware and Cavalier hit three point shots to give the Valor a 72-70 lead. The Eagles offense grew hot from the floor, retaking a double digit lead over Evangel, before the Valor began to fight back. Davault hit several baskets in the second half, but after a Ware basket with 3:31 remaining made the score 87-80, the Eagles closed the game out on a 13-1 run, taking a 100-81 win over Evangel and ultimately ending Evangel's season in the conference quarterfinals.

QUOTABLE 

"I was really proud of how we fought the whole game. We played tough down the stretch, we just couldn't finish the game," head coach Bert Capel stated. "I'm going to miss these seniors. They are great kids who are going to do great things."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led EU with 17 points and four rebounds in the loss on Wednesday.

• Ty Campbell passed off a team high eight assists.

• Josh Mason (15 pts.), Bryce Ware (15 pts.), and Carson Cavalier (12 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• The Valor outshot OKWU on Wednesday, 51.7 percent to 50.8 percent, but shot 12 less free throws than the home team.

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.