WINFIELD, Kan. — The No. 9-ranked Southwestern College (15-2, 10-2) men's basketball team secured a hard-fought 86-78 victory against Evangel University Valor (8-9, 6-6) as historic Stewart Field House turned 100 years old on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
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The Moundbuilders needed every bit of
Cevin Clark's 42-point performance in front of packed 100-year-old Stewart Field House. Clark, the NAIA's No. 1 scorer in the country at 27.2 points per game, paced Southwestern to lead all scorers.
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Clark had 21 first half points to keep Southwestern even with the Valor, but the Builders needed an
Andrew O'Brien near halfcourt shot at the halftime buzzer to take a three-point lead into halftime, 47-44.
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Evangel put up a tough second half fight behind Manrique Alvarado's 17 points and Josh Pritchett's 15 points and eight rebounds.
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Clark hit another 21 points in the second half going 4 for 9 from the three-point line and was perfect from the free throw line, 8-8.
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Southwestern pushed the second half gap up to as much as 11 to keep the Valor at bay.
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O'Brien finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
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Mason Thiessen was the leading rebounder for the game with 10 and he added 11 points in the paint.
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Trey White contributed eight points, going 4 for 5 from the field.
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Team Statistics:
- Field Goals: 44.4%
- Three-Pointers: 27.3%
- Free Throws: 86.7%
- Field Goals: 43.9%
- Three-Pointers: 44%
- Free Throws: 81%
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The Builders will hit the road next on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Tabor College (8-9, 5-6), tip off at 7pm.
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