MARSHALL, Mo. – A late lead slipped away from the Evangel men’s basketball dropping a heartbreaker, 87-85 at Missouri Valley Thursday night in conference play.
With five lead changes in the final 55 seconds, Cody Geiger scored on a layup across the lane with nine seconds left in the game. However, Missouri Valley regained the lead with three seconds on a back-door lay-in by Beckley Obineke.
Evangel was able to advance the ball to midcourt but the in-bounds pass was stolen by the Vikings’ Remy Price to seal the win.
The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead and took a 44-30 lead into the locker room at halftime. Evangel would push its lead to 18 points at the 10:44 mark in the second half before the Viking comeback started.
Cody Geiger and Nick Yocum led Evangel with 18 points each as the Crusaders shot 50 percent in the game. Evangel gave way on the glass in a second straight game, 36-26, as they dropped their third straight.
Missouri Valley was led by 23 points from Brody Gronewold who was 5-of-9 from behind the three-point line. The win was also the second straight for the Vikings.
A back and forth battle saw the Evangel women’s basketball team earn a needed road victory, 66-64, at Missouri Valley Thursday night in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
The Crusaders fell behind early and trailed 38-35 at halftime. However, a game that saw 20 lead changes and 12 ties shifted in Evangel’s favor late in the second half. The Crusaders managed to out-rebound Missouri Valley 38-29 and finish with 17 points off turnovers to hand the Vikings their second straight loss.
Reggine Brown led Evangel with18 points before fouling out. She was joined in double figures by Mackenzie Farmer who added 15 points and three rebounds in the win.
Evangel was just 1-of-2 from the free throw line and did not attempt a free throw in the second half.
Missouri Valley was led by 18 points from Ashley Ward who added seven rebounds. The Vikings shot just 39 percent from the field as Evangel shot 43 percent.
