Men's Basketball welcomes No. 18 Evangel University to the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. game tonight as they wrap up their January-opening homestand. 

The 63rd meeting between Benedictine and Evangel marks the last regular-season conference trip to campus for the Valor as they are set to move to the KCAC for the 2023-24 academic year. The Valor has won the last 3 meetings – all of which came last season. 

Tonight's meeting features the top two scoring defenses in Heart. Evangel ranks first, limiting their opponents to 67.9 ppg, while Benedictine ranks second, limiting their opponents to 68.5 ppg. The Ravens rank 2nd in field goal defense (40.4) while the Valor rank 3rd (41.8). Evangel ranks 2nd in 3-point defense (29.9) while Benedictine ranks 4th (31.9).

The Valor have the only unblemished road record in the Heart. Through 15 games, Evangel is 6-0 on the road with wins over Culver-Stockton, Grand View, Baker, and Missouri Valley. The Valor are sitting at 76.8 ppg in those four road wins, 0.3 percent higher than their overall season average.

Benedictine is 1 of 6 teams in the Heart standings with 5 or more wins at home this season. The Ravens are 5-3 and are averaging 68.1 ppg inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium this season. They have won 3 straight at home, averaging 75 ppg while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Josh Pritchett ranks 5th in the Heart in scoring. Through 15 games, the Valor Senior is averaging 18.6 points while shooting 50.8 percent from the floor. Of the 5-leading scorers, he has the second-best field goal percentage behind Anthony Brown from MNU (20.7 ppg, 58.8 percent). 

Benedictine's Braden Belt has made the most 3-pointers in the Heart this season. In 15 games, the Ravens Senior has made 53 – 6 more than the second-highest total – while shooting 40.5 percent. He has made 26 of 55 3-pointers over the Ravens winning streak, shooting 47.3 percent. 

Sam Ungashick was named the Heart Player of the Week for his efforts in Benedictine's wins over CMU and Grand View last week. He averaged 24.5 ppg on the week while shooting 84.2 percent from the field. His 30-point effort, not only set a career-high, it marked the first 30-point game for a Ravens since Matt Austin scored 33 against Peru State on Jan. 5, 2022.

After opening the month with a three-game homestand, the Ravens will hit the road for three straight. First up in the trip, a Saturday meeting with (RV) MNU in Olathe at 4 p.m. They travel to Marshall, Mo., on Jan. 16 to take on Missouri Valley before they start the second half of the Heart schedule on Thursday with a trip to Baldwin City to take on Baker University. 

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