The Culver-Stockton men's basketball team began Heart of America Athletic Conference play with an 83-68 loss to No. 22 Evangel University at Charles Field House Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats never led in the game and trailed 44-32 at the intermission. C-SC pulled to with eight points at 48-40 with 17:08 to play on a 3-pointer by Robert Fry II, however, the Valor went on a 16-2 run over the next four minutes to build a 22-point lead at 64-42.

The Wildcats showed some fight and inched their way back to get the deficit under double-digits with 3:55 to play in the game; however, they would get no closer as the Valor closed out the road victory.

C-SC put four players in double figures in scoring with Jalen Blaize coming off the bench with 21 points to lead the pack. Fry and CaRondis Harris-Anderson contributed 14 points, while Javon Modester netted 10 markers.

Blaize and Harris-Anderson grabbed seven and six rebounds, respectively, to lead the Wildcats in that category, while Harris-Anderson and Seth Larson dished out three assists each.

C-SC, now 4-2 overall, is scheduled to play its first league road contest this Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Peru State College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Peru, Neb.