Mustangs falter late as Valor advance

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Mount Mercy held a 10-point lead late, but couldn't close the deal as Evangel outscored the Mustangs, 24-6, over the final six minutes of the game to advance to the semifinals of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship with a 71-63 victory on Wednesday night at the Ashcroft Center. 

Wednesday's quarterfinal looked like their regular season matchup when Mount Mercy also had a double-digit lead in the second half before suffering an 11-point loss at Evangel. The Valor (21-8), the number one seed out of the South Division, hosts the South's number three seed, Benedictine, in a Friday semifinal. The Mustangs, the fourth seed out of the North Division, end the season at 16-14.

Anthony Horton, Jr. was the lone Mustang in double figures with 16 points. He also had five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Lavaris Duncan scored nine points off the bench. Ryan Bartley and Bailey Basala scored eight points apiece. RoyShawn Webb finished with seven points and 10 boards.

Stephen Salvi poured in a game-high 22 points in a reserve role while three starters -- Cade Coffman, Edriel Martinborough, and Pavel Antonov -- also hit double digits. Coffman put up 14 points and five rebounds, Antonov chipped in 13 points, and Martinborough tallied 12 points, seven boards, and five assists.