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.
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.
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.
Evangel put up a tough second half fight behind Manrique Alvarado's 17 points and Josh Pritchett's 15 points and eight rebounds.
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.
Southwestern pushed the second half gap up to as much as 11 to keep the Valor at bay.
O'Brien finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Mason Thiessen was the leading rebounder for the game with 10 and he added 11 points in the paint.
Trey White contributed eight points, going 4 for 5 from the field.
Team Statistics:
- Field Goals: 44.4%
- Three-Pointers: 27.3%
- Free Throws: 86.7%
- Field Goals: 43.9%
- Three-Pointers: 44%
- Free Throws: 81%
The Builders will hit the road next on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Tabor College (8-9, 5-6), tip off at 7pm.
