The Crusaders from Evangel came to Olathe and took both basketball games on Thursday. In the women's game, the Pioneers played from behind most of the game and could never get on track offensively, falling 57-42. Evangel took control of the game early in the second half. With the Pioneers trailing by just 3 points, the Crusaders went on a 7-0 run to take a double-digit lead. MNU managed to get quickly get within 5, but the lead ballooned to 15 with 5 minutes left and the Pioneers could not recover.
Kiley Herold had 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
The Pioneers are 5-11 (3-3 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Lindenwood (9-6, 5-2) at 2:00 PM.
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In the men's game, Evangel's Cale Ramsey made 4 quick shots as the Crusaders jumped out to an 8-2 lead. Evangel built the lead to 15 with 3 minutes remaining in the first half and threatened to run away with it. But the Pioneers clawed back with a 9-2 run to stay in the game.
In the second half, Evangel maintained a double-digit lead until the Pioneers made a game of it with 10 minutes remaining. Trailing by 13, MNU and Keith McCullough made a charge. McCullough hit three 3-pointers and the defense stymied Evangel during a 15-5 run to get within 3 points. But the final 4 minutes belonged to the Crusaders as they went on an 18-5 run to close it out.
Keith McCullough had 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Rustin Dowd had 13 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals. Conner Langrehr added 11 points and 3 assists off the bench. And Andrew Crotty pulled down 9 rebounds.
The Pioneers are 7-9 (2-4 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at #4 Lindenwood (16-1, 7-0) at 4:00 PM.
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