On a night MidAmerica Nazarene could have clinched the Heart of America conference regular season title, Evangel stunned the 10th ranked Pioneers with an 83-59 win at the Ashcroft Center on Wednesday.
Evangel started the game on 8-2 run and never trailed. In the closing seconds of the first half, Richard Chapman hit jumper and the Pioneers' in-bounds pass that followed was stolen by Jalen Norman who converted a lay-up just before the horn sounded giving the Crusaders a 45-31 lead at the half.
"We really played well defensively," said Evangel head coach Steve Jenkins. "(MidAmerica Nazarene) averages 92 points per game in the conference and we held them to 59. I was really happy for Billy Thompson, our only senior. In his last game at home, he played well on both ends of the floor."
Evangel's Cody Geiger led all scorers with 18 points. Jalen Norman had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots for the Crusaders while Thompson finished the game with 11 points and 7 boards.
Nick Syrie led the Pioneers with 13 points. The Pioneers went 0 for 10 from three-point range and committed 19 turnovers.
The loss snapped a 13 game winning streak for the MIdAmerica Nazarene who hadn't lost since Jan. 9. The win ended a six game losing streak for Evangel.
The Crusaders raised their record to 7-22 and 6-15 in the Heart of America conference. The Pioneers dropped to 22-7 and 16-5. MidAmerica Nazarene also dropped into a three-way tie for first place with William Penn and Peru State.
Evangel ends their season on Saturday at 18th ranked Peru State. Eliminated from contention for the Heart of America conference tournament, the Crusaders face the Bobcats for a 4 p.m. tipoff.
