The Basics 

Score: Evangel 69, #5 Oklahoma Wesleyan 75

Location: Bartlesville, Okla. (Mueller Sports Center)

Records: Evangel (17-10, 13-8), OKWU (24-3, 19-2)

Box Score 

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- The Evangel Valor Men's Basketball team hit the road on Wednesday (Feb. 18) night, looking to attempt to pull off an upset over the fifth-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles in Bartlesville, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 1993-94 season. Despite finishing with a better shooting percentage than the Eagles, Evangel was outrebounded 36-20 and turned the ball over 15 times, resulting in a narrow loss to #5 OKWU, 75-69.

Evangel and Oklahoma Wesleyan traded baskets to open Wednesday night's game, with baskets from Garrett Davault and three pointers from Harrison Doennig and Drew McMillin helping EU take a 11-10 lead. The Eagles were able to grab their largest lead of the first half, using a 5-0 run to lead 15-11 with 14:02 on the clock. Davault and Ty Campbell kept the Valor within striking distance in the first half and a Tommy Pinegar three pointer tied the game up at 27-27 with 8:24 left in the first half. A miniature Jacob Lafferty run helped keep EU within a possession of the lead and on the final possession of the first half, Davault found a cutting Luke Foster who nailed a floater to tie the game up at halftime, 37-37.

Campbell and Davault carried the load for Evangel to open the second half, hitting several three pointers and throwing down a slam to give the Valor a 51-45 lead at the 14:40 mark. Three pointers from Pinegar and McMillin kept Evangel ahead by six, 57-51, with 11:49 remaining in the game. OKWU would generate a 8-0 run over the following two minutes to take a 59-57 lead over EU. Foster nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game up at 59-59 with 8:56 left in the game, but the Eagles would go on a 9-2 run over the following five minutes to lead the Valor, 68-61. McMillin nailed a three pointer and Evangel was able to get a steal with a chance to draw within a possession, but a turnover led to three consecutive OKWU points. Davault scored the last five points for Evangel, but another pair of late turnovers hurt EU's chances, as OKWU made late free throws, leading to a 75-69 loss for the Valor.

QUOTABLE 

"I thought we competed well tonight. We played good basketball on both ends of the floor, but their offensive rebounding and a couple late turnovers were the difference in the end," head coach Bert Capel stated. "We'll learn from it and be ready for Sterling on Saturday."

NOTABLE 

• Garrett Davault led Evangel with 22 points in the loss.

• Ty Campbell rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday, putting forth 12 points.

• Luke Foster and Davault led EU in rebounds, both pulling down five on Wednesday.

• Drew McMillin passed off a team high five assists.

UP NEXT

Evangel MBB closes the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 21) evening, taking on the Sterling College Warriors at 7:00 p.m. in Sterling, 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.