Second-Half Play Lifts Cougars Past Evangel

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College men’s basketball team battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Evangel University 78-71 in non-conference action Tuesday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Collin Parker led all scorers with 20 points, while Trever Moore (15) and Marlon Allen (12) also scored in double figures for Columbia. The Cougars shot a season-low 39.0 percent (23-59) from the field,  but connected on 50.0 percent (16-32) in the second half.
 
Columbia improved to 4-1 with the win, while Evangel had its three-game win streak snapped and fell to 3-3. The Cougars. have won eight-straight home games dating back to last season.
 
A back and forth first half saw the Cougars hold an 11-10 lead following a jumper by Moore. Evangel scored five-straight points to take a 15-12 lead with 12:35 left before half.
 
With the score tied at 15-15, Evangel scored eight-straight points to take the 23-15 lead. The Valors lead grew to double-digits at 30-20 following two free-throws from Josh Pritchett. The Valor took its largest lead of the game at 37-23 with 1:45 left before half.
 
Evangel had a 37-28 lead at half as the Cougars shot just 25.9 percent (7-27) from the field, including 2-of-15 from three-point range. Columbia stayed in the contest by hitting 12-of-16 from the free-throw line. Collin Parker led the Cougars with nine points.
 
Allen scored eight-straight points to tie the score at 44-44, and an 8-0 run by the Cougars made it 54-50 with 7:48 to play. Moore’s second three-pointer of the night extended the lead to 62-55, and then he canned another three to make it 67-59 with 3:12 to play. The Cougars hit their final six shots from the field.
 
Pritchett led Evangel with 12 points, while Manrique Alvarado and Jace Coffie added 11 points each. The Valor shot 35.4 percent (23-65) from the field for the game, including 29.0 percent (9-31) in the second half. 
 
The Cougars host Dakota Wesleyan University on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. in the second game of the 2023 Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic.
 
NOTES: Columbia leads the all-time series with Evangel 7-4, and snapped a two-game losing streak to the Valor … Parker has scored in double figures in all five games this season … The 15 points for Moore was a season high … The 24 free-throws made was a season high … The Cougars had recorded single digit turnovers in four of five games played.