The Basics 

Score: Evangel 82, Avila 61

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

Records: Evangel (12-5, 8-3), Avila (10-7, 5-6)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Men's Basketball returned home on Wednesday (Jan. 14) evening, taking on the Avila Eagles in a KCAC matchup. After having dropped the previous three matchups with the Eagles, Evangel used a dominant second half performance, their second consecutive game doing so, to take a 82-61 win over the Eagles.

Evangel was able to open Wednesday's contest by jumping out to a pair of seven-point advantages, using scoring from Garrett Davault and Harrison Doennig to lead 17-10 with 12:13 remaining in the first half. Both teams continued to battle, but Avila would generate a run of their own, using a 11-2 run to take a two point lead, 21-19, with 8:28 left to play in the first half. A three pointer from Akarius Staten-Ballance helped break the Avila run, and in turn, swung momentum in Evangel's favor, as EU was able to jump back out to an eight point lead, capped off by a Ty Campbell three pointer. The Eagles were able to close the half out on a 5-0 run, as EU led 36-33 at the halftime break.

The Valor used efficient offense and strong defense in the second half, outscoring Avila 46-28. Davault helped spark the early Evangel run, while Drew McMillin scored several key baskets to help EU take a double digit lead. Avila was unable to hit free throws in the second half, allowing Evangel to continue their run. Several baskets from Doennig pushed EU to a twenty point lead while free throws from Davault gave EU their largest lead of the evening, 74-49. A final basket from Jacob Lafferty capped off the Evangel win over Avila on Wednesday, 82-61.

QUOTABLE 

"I thought we guarded and rebounded the ball really well tonight," head coach Bert Capel stated. "Our offense has been coming along, but the defense has needed to be more consistent and tonight was a good step in that direction."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led Evangel with 18 points in the win, finishing with a double-double, pulling down 10 boards.

• Harrison Doennig (16 pts.) and Jacob Lafferty (14 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday. Lafferty finished with a double-double, pulling down 13 rebounds in the win.

• Evangel's defense held Avila to 27.2 percent shooting in the second half on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Evangel MBB hits the road on Saturday (Jan. 17) afternoon, taking on the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes at 3:00 p.m. in Salina, Kansas.

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.