SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Southwestern College put on a valiant effort on Wednesday night, but the Moundbuilders fell just short, losing 85-84 in overtime to Evangel University at AGFinancial Arena.
Austin Hilton led the way for Southwestern with a game-high 19 points, shooting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and adding three rebounds. Trey Abasolo contributed across the board with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Evan Barber matched Abasolo's scoring output, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Wyatt Bell poured in 11 points despite struggling from the field, shooting 5-of-18 overall, but added five assists. Justin DeMaria chipped in 13 points and four rebounds off the bench, and Ronnail Tape scored nine points in limited minutes, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from deep.
The Moundbuilders excelled from long range, hitting 18 of 39 three-point attempts (46.2%), compared to Evangel's 11-of-28 (39.3%). However, Evangel had the edge in overall field goal percentage, shooting 43.2% to Southwestern's 37.9%.
Evangel's Garrett Davault proved to be a difference-maker, scoring 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbing six rebounds. Carson Cavalier added 15 points, including four three-pointers, while Ty Campbell delivered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison Doennig and Manrique Alvarado contributed nine points each, with Alvarado tallying seven assists.
Evangel's bench proved pivotal, contributing 53 points compared to Southwestern's 36. The Crusaders also outscored the Builders 42-14 in the paint, capitalizing on their inside presence.
Southwestern held a slim lead for much of the game, leading by as many as 12 points midway through the second half. The Builders' perimeter shooting kept them in contention, but turnovers (16 total) and struggles inside the arc proved costly.
The game came down to the final seconds, with Evangel hitting crucial free throws.
The Builders would have one final possession, but a Wyatt Bell 1/4 court shot was unsuccessful.
Southwestern returns home on Saturday Jan 11 looking to bounce back against McPherson College .
