The Basics

Score: Evangel 65, Saint Mary 61

Location: Leavenworth, Kan. (Ryan Sports Center)

Records: Evangel (11-12, 8-9); Saint Mary (15-8, 12-5)

Box Score 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Valor Men's Basketball hit the road on Wednesday (Feb. 5) evening, looking to bounce back against a quality Saint Mary opponent who EU had fallen to on a buzzer beater earlier this season. In what proved to be a defensive battle on Wednesday, a second half surge where the Valor outscored the Spires by eight proved to be the difference as Evangel escaped with a 65-61 win.

Evangel opened Wednesday's game by jumping out to a 9-4 lead over the home team on baskets from Manrique Alvarado, Harrison Doennig, and Garrett Davault. The Spires offense found their legs soon after, going on a run to take a 9-10 lead over EU. Neither team's offense did much in the first half as 27 combined points were scored in the first 10 minutes of play. Both teams traded baskets until uncharacteristic fouls allowed USM free throws, as the Spires converted to take as much as a six point lead over EU, 25-31, with a minute remaining. Cade Sutton closed the half out for EU by forcing a steal and scoring on the other end, as the Valor trailed 27-31 at halftime.

Harrison Doennig helped fuel Evangel's offense to open the second half, as the freshman hit several shots to tie the game up at 34-34 before Stephen Salvi, Alvarado, and Davault all scored to give the Valor a 41-34 lead. EU was able to hold that six point lead until the 5:18 mark when Saint Mary used a 5-0 run to make it just a one point Valor lead, 54-53. The remainder of Wednesday's game proved to be a free throw fest, as both teams finished out the game with free throw shots. Despite Evangel going 50 percent on most of their free throw attempts late, the Valor were able to generate stops on defense and ultimately were able to get up by two scores, taking a 65-61 win on the road against the Spires.

QUOTABLE 

"Saint Mary is a tough place to play. I didn't think we handled the game very well in the first half," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We played a lot tougher in the second half and found a way to win in the last couple minutes of the game."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led the Valor with 19 points in Wednesday's win

• Evangel shot just 37.5 percent from the floor, including 7.7 percent from three.

• Stephen Salvi led EU with 10 rebounds in the win.

• Bert Capel earned his first win against Saint Mary on Wednesday.

UP NEXT 

Valor MBB returns home on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon to host the York Panthers 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.