Men
Avila rallied from six points behind with 1:04 remaining to take a 79-76 win at home over Evangel on Wednesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Crusaders led by nine with 3:44 remaining and owned a 74-68 lead with 1:04 left when the Eagles came back.
Avila got a three-point play when Sedrick Johnson got a steal and Evangel was called for an intentional foul with a minute remaining. Johnson made one of two free throws and Jordan Epps followed with a basket cutting Evangel's lead to 74-71.
After Marcus Miller went one for two from the foul line with 36 seconds left, Epps countered with a three-pointer cutting the Crusaders lead to 75-74.
With 22 seconds left, Cody Geiger's one for two trip to the free throw line gave Evangel a two point edge but the Eagles took the lead for good eight seconds later when Nduka Ezeamii would score in the lane and get fouled. His free throw put Avila in front 77-76.
A runner by Dylan Bekemeier was off the mark with five seconds left and after the Eagles made two more free throws, Nick Yocum's 22-foot attempt at the buzzer missed off the rim giving Avila a 79-76 win.
"Avila was just able to finish the game," said Evangel head coach Steve Jenkins. "Sedrick Johnson is a great player and he helped them make the plays they needed to down the stretch. We held him to two points in the first half but he got going and took charge, including getting that steal at the end."
Johnson finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Ezeamii had 22 points and 12 boards.
Yocum had 23 points and connected on seven three-pointers. Cody Geiger added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The loss dropped Evangel to 6-19 and 5-12 in the Heart of America conference. Avila went to 17-8 and 10-7 in the league.
The Crusaders return for a home game on Saturday as they face William Penn. Game time is 4 p.m. at the Ashcroft Center. Saturday is Senior Day with senior players from the men's and women's team along with the Cheer Squad will be honored at halftime.
Women
Evangel pulled away from Avila in the second quarter as they outscored the Eagles 19-10 in that period on their way to a 69-57 win Wednesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mackenzie Farmer scored 10 of her 15 points in the second quarter as the Crusaders built a 31-19 lead by halftime. Farmer added four rebounds and four assists in the game.
"We played offensively," said Evangel head coach Leon Neal. "I thought Taylor Longley led us well and we shared the ball. We got a lot of people involved to get us that balanced scoring."
Alison Jarrell also had 15 for the Crusaders while Longley chipped in 13 and Allison Swanson had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Avila's Laci Sarcone led all scorers with 20 points.
The Crusaders led by as much in 15 in the second half. Avila trimmed the lead to nine in the game's final minute before Evangel closed out the game to win by 12.
Evangel raised their record to 7-15 and 6-11 in the Heart of America conference. Avila dropped to 3-21 and 2-15 in the league.
The Crusaders return home for their next game as they face William Penn on Saturday. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. at the Ashcroft Center.
