SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Freshman Ahlante Askew showed out in his homecoming return by scoring a team-leading 21 points, but the Golden Eagles couldn't overcome a one-possession game with under five to play as the John Brown University men's basketball team absorbed its first loss of the season, 83-73, at Evangel (Mo.) on Friday (Nov. 10) night inside the Ashcroft Center.
Askew finished the evening with 21 points, three assists and two rebounds as the freshman shot 6-of-12 from the floor, and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Malachi Reeves was the only other Golden Eagle in double-figure scoring, ending with 13 points and four rebounds.
While the first half was riddled with 10 ties and 10 lead changes, John Brown (2-1) pieced together a 14-5 run midway through the second half to turn an 11-point deficit (61-50), into a one-possession game, 66-64, with 5:37 left in the contest.
Askew scored nine of his points during the run, including a triple to cap off the rally, but the JBU offense then fell into a 2-of-9 drought down the stretch, saved only by a pair of final-minute triples from Reeves as the Valor (1-2) picked up their first win of the season.
Evangel out-rebounded John Brown, 44-32, and limited the visitors to nine offensive rebounds and just two second-chance points.
"We played hard and did a lot of things well, it just wasn't enough to beat Evangel tonight," head coach Jason Beschta admitted. "We came in locked in early and ready to play, which says a lot about our team since it would have been easy to play flat after our game yesterday. It was a battle throughout, but the run that Evangel went on to start the second half was just something we were never quite able to overcome.
"I thought we worked for a lot of good shots that just didn't go down tonight. Evangel is so tough to guard with their motion, and they play very physical to make you earn anything you get. They are going to be a tough team to beat this year. I will go to battle with our guys any day though. We believe in each other, we work so hard, and we are committed to the right things, so I expect us to learn what we can from this and continue to get better each day."
Manrique Alvarado's 21 points led the Valor offensively. Josh Pritchett contributed a 10-of-12 effort from the free-throw line to chip in 20 points to accompany eight assists.
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Friday (Nov. 17) as the Golden Eagles head to the Sunshine State for a pair of contests to close out the non-conference season. JBU will take on No. 25 Florida College first in Temple Terrace inside the Conn Gymnasium.
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