SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Elliott Black and Melvin Tillman combined for 41 points on Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough as Evangel defeated Central Methodist 81-65 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals. The Crusaders (23-8) advance to the Semifinals on Friday, while the Eagles (14-15) end their season�having won� five of their last seven contests.

Black went for a game-high 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He was also 4-of-5 at the free throw line and pulled down six rebounds. Tillman added 15 points.

The Eagles' Eric Franklin and Robert Mason had nine and seven points, respectively. Alex Barner came up with five points and seven rebounds.

Stephen Cotton sparked Evangel offensively with a team-high 17 points. Mitch McHenry had 14. Cale Ramsey�recorded�13.

The Crusaders shot 58.6 percent (34-of-58) from the floor and 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from behind the arc. The Eagles hit 38.8 percent (26-of-67) of their shots from the field and 75 percent (9-of-12) from the charity stripe.

Central Methodist recorded eight steals in the game compared to only three for the Crusaders.

Evangel led by seven points, 36-29, at halftime before pulling away in the second 20 minutes of play.