Springfield, Mo. – Evangel outscored Graceland 22-12 in the final seven minutes to earn an 88-83 win at the Ashcroft Center on Saturday.
The Crusaders trailed 74-69 with 6:32 remaining when a Cody Geiger would score and get fouled to draw Evangel within two points of the lead. The sophomore from Republic added baskets on the next two Evangel possessions and a Nick Yocum three-pointer with 3:58 left put the Crusaders in front 79-77.
Evangel took advantage of a flagrant foul, two baskets by Jalen Norman including a dunk and free throws down the stretch to hold off the Yellowjackets.
Geiger finished with 23 points on 11 of 17 shooting. Richard Chapman added 18 points and Nick Yocum had 17 with five three-pointers.
Graceland got 24 points from David Shepard and 20 from Isaiah Johnson.
“Graceland’s zone defense doesn’t have many holes in it,” said Evangel head coach Steve Jenkins. “We were able to shoot over it a couple of times and then Jalen Norman went and attacked the rim and made two very big plays for us late in the game.”
Evangel shot a season high 55 percent from the floor connecting on 34 of 62 shots. The Crusaders went 15 for 28 in the first half and followed that by going 19 for 34 in the second half.
The Yellowjackets hit 15 three-pointers going 15 for 32 from behind the arc but only got the free throw four times going 2 for 4.
