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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Central Methodist, missing three starters due to injury, could not withstand a late four-point Crusaders' play and fell to No. 18 Evangel (Mo.), 71-66, on Thursday in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Crusaders snap the Eagles' two-game win streak in the Ashcroft Center during the regular season.

Central Methodist (18-9, 8-7) was without the services of starting 6'7 forward Mitchell Wendling due to an injured ankle suffered in last Saturday's comeback win over Avila (Mo.), forcing the Eagles to play a smaller lineup with primarily four guards against an Evangel (17-9, 12-3) team that averages 6'7 and 230 pounds across its front line. Despite missing three starters, including two forwards, due to injury, Central Methodist battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit to take its first lead of the night, 49-47, at the 8:40 mark following a Mitchell Farr trey in transition. Quinten Hunter gave the Green and Black a 55-52 edge with a 3-pointer three minutes later, but the Crusaders' Brodie Wingert canned a bucket from distance of his own on the next possession to tie the affair.

After the two teams traded baskets, Evangel retook the lead for good following a four-point play by Richard Chapman, who was fouled on a 3-point basket from the wing with 3:43 to play. Two Hunter free throws with 1:15 to go trimmed the Eagles' deficit to 65-63, but a Korry Tillery basket from four-feet out on the next trip down the court put the Crusaders on top by two possessions for the rest of the night.

Central Methodist jumped out to a 7-0 advantage less than three minutes into the game but trailed by as many 11 points in the first half and 10 less than a minute into the second period before its comeback attempt.

Tillery had 21 points and 12 rebounds, earning his sixth straight double-double and his 16th of the year. Wingert had 18 points and added four assists.

Farr had 18 points to lead four Central Methodist players in double figures. Mike McCode registered 16 points and four steals, while Greg Williams added 13 points and seven rebounds. Hunter had nine points. Scott Stegeman finished with six rebounds.

Central Methodist returns to Puckett Field House on Saturday to host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 4 p.m. CT.