The Basics 

Score: Evangel 74, Southwestern 87

Location: Winfield, Kan. (Stewart Fieldhouse)

Records: Evangel (10-5, 6-3), Southwestern (11-4, 5-4)

Box Score 

WINFIELD, Kan. -- Evangel Men's Basketball took on the Southwestern College Moundbuilders on Wednesday (Jan. 7) evening, attempting to earn their first ever win in Winfield against a tough Moundbuilders squad. Despite hanging tough and cutting the deficit down to one possession games on several occasions, Southwestern shot over 60 percent from the floor and hit 14 three pointers, forcing Evangel to fall on the road, 87-74.

Southwestern came out firing on Wednesday, hitting a trio of three pointers before Evangel was able to open scoring. Garrett Davault, Harrison Doennig, and Drew McMillin would generate a 6-0 run to make EU's deficit just three points early, but Southwestern would not stop scoring, as another three and pair of layups gave SWC a 16-10 lead seven minutes into the contest. Three pointers from Jacob Lafferty and McMillin allowed EU to trail by just a single point, 18-17, but the Moundbuilders again responded, this time with four three pointers to lead Evangel 35-22 with seven minutes left in the first half. The trio of McMillin, Lafferty, and Davault kept the Valor in the contest despite Southwestern's blazing hot start, as EU trailed by just eight, 47-39, after the home team hit 10 three pointers in the frame.

Evangel would draw within five points of the Southwestern lead on a trio of occasions, but seemingly every time the Valor generated a run, the Moundbuilders found an answer of their own. With 7:31 remaining, SWC led by 14 points, 75-61, but baskets from Cole Griesemer, Ty Campbell, and Lafferty quickly made it a 75-68 game, with five minutes remaining. Southwestern closed out the final five minutes of Wednesday's contest with a pair of three pointers to help ice the game away for the home team, as EU ultimately fell, 87-74.

QUOTABLE 

"The biggest difference in the game tonight was Southwestern's shot making, especially from three. I thought we did some good things on both ends of the floor, but could not overcome their hot shooting," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We had a chance at the end when we cut the deficit to seven before the last media, but just could not get over the hump."

NOTABLE 

• Jacob Lafferty led Evangel with 27 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

• Garrett Davault (17 pts.) and Drew McMillin (13 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday.

• Southwestern made 10 three pointers in the first half, shooting 56 percent from three point range.

UP NEXT

Evangel MBB concludes their road trip on Saturday (Jan. 10) afternoon, taking on the Bethany College Swedes at 2:00 p.m. in Lindsborg, 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.