Sterling College narrowly fall to Evangel in regular season finale

In a closely contested battle that marked the final game of their regular season, the Sterling College Warriors were narrowly defeated by the Evangel Valor with a final score of 67-65 on Saturday, Feb. 22. Despite leading at halftime, the Warriors could not maintain their momentum, succumbing to a late surge by the Valor.

The game started off strong for the Warriors as they took an early lead, finishing the first half up by ten points, 37-27. Standout performances included Mooch Austin and Jayden Garrison, each scoring 17 points. Austin also led with four assists, while Chris Drake dominated the boards, pulling down 13 rebounds.

However, the second half of the game saw a shift in dynamics as Evangel intensified their defense and capitalized on turnovers by Sterling. The Warriors, who had led for most of the game, struggled with ball control, culminating in 15 turnovers which Evangel converted into 21 points. In contrast, the Warriors managed to score only seven points off of Evangels seven turnovers.

The match concluded with key free throws from Evangel's Stephen Salvi, sealing the victory for the Valor. With the loss the Warriors fall out of KCAC post-season contention finishing the season with a 9-13 conference record and 14-14 season record. However, Sterling still has a chance to make a run in the NCCAA National Tournament. Regional play will conclude March 15 with the top eight teams advancing to Lookout Point, Mo. to play March 19-22.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #swordsup. Watch all of the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.