The Basics

Score: Evangel 98, York 83 

Location: Leavenworth, Kan. (Ryan Sports Center)

Records: Evangel (12-12, 9-9); York (7-16, 4-14)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Men's Basketball returned home on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon, taking on the York Panthers in AGFinancial Arena. As both teams were in need of a win, Evangel used a strong second half offensive performance to take a 98-83 win on Saturday, eliminating the Panthers from conference tournament contention, but staying tied in the standings with McPherson after the Bulldogs win.

The first five minutes of Saturday's game were spent trading baskets between both teams, as neither team could jump out to more than a two point lead. A three pointer from Carson Cavalier with 14:46 remaining gave EU a five-point lead, 16-11. Leading 19-14, York generated a 7-0 run to take the lead, 21-19, with 10 minutes left in the half. Manrique Alvarado took over late in the first half, scoring 11 points in the final 3:13 of play, including a big three pointer to close the period, giving the Valor a 46-43 halftime lead.

The Valor came out firing to open the second half as a pair of Luke Foster baskets forced a York timeout. A Josh Mason three and Garrett Davault basket pushed EU out to a 55-43 lead before the Panthers responded. Both York and Evangel traded baskets for a seven minute period until York used a 6-0 run to draw within six points of the Valor lead, 69-63. The Panthers were able to draw within four points of Evangel before a Stephen Salvi three pointer shifted momentum back into the home team's favor. EU retook a double digit lead on a Ty Campbell layup and a pair of late three pointers from Salvi and Isaac Wootton locked down the game for EU, 98-83, on Saturday. 

QUOTABLE 

"Offensively I thought we started the game really well. Our motion looked good and we were making our shots, however, defensively our intensity wasn't there. York did a good job of making their shots," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We didn't make it very hard on them offensively. At halftime, we made some adjustments defensively and I thought we did a lot better in the second half."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault and Manrique Alvarado led the Valor with 20 points in Saturday's win

• Josh Mason rounded out double digit scoring on Saturday, scoring 16 points.

• Evangel hit 12 three pointers in their win.

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

• Davault passed off six assists on Saturday, a team high.

UP NEXT 

Valor MBB hits the road on Wednesday (Feb. 12) evening to take on the Southwestern College Moundbuilders in Winfield, Kan., at 7:00 p.m.

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.