SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Three attempts in the final 10 seconds were no good for the Evangel men’s basketball team as they fell 83-81 to Baker University in Heart action Monday night.
The Baker Wildcats split a pair of free throws to take a two point lead with 19 seconds left in the game. Evangel would get its first attempt from Dylan Bekemeier with eight seconds left followed by a shot from Cody Geiger with three seconds left.
Nick Yocum’s off-balance shot at the buzzer fell off the rim as Evangel dropped its fourth straight. Yocum led the Crusaders with 21 points as the senior crossed the 1,000 point mark for his career at Evangel knocking down six three-pointers.
Richard Chapman and Autry Acord also finished in double figures adding 12 points each while Cody Geiger tallied 11. Josue Levy scored seven of his nine points in the second half adding five boards and four assists.
Baker shot 54 percent from the field and out-rebounded Evangel 41-23. The Crusaders were also 60 percent from the free throw line in the loss.
Daniel Young led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Crusaders head north to face Grand View Saturday at 4 p.m. in Heart action.
Women
The Evangel University women’s basketball team fell to 10th-ranked Baker, 55-67, Monday night in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
The Crusaders pulled within eight in the final two minutes, however the Wildcats were perfect from the free throw line in the fourth quarter as they held off Evangel. Baker also out-rebounded Evangel 47-34 while holding the Crusaders to 30 percent shooting from the field.
Allison Swanson scored a game-high 19 points while blocking three shots and adding four assists in the loss.
Teammate Samantha Williams scored 12 points while Randi Hancock finished in double figures with 12 points as well. Williams made two of the Crusaders four three-pointers in the loss.
Baker was led by Kelsey Larson who finished with 15 points and eight boards.
The Crusaders head north to face Grand View Saturday at 2 p.m. in Heart action.
