BOX SCORE

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. --- Biola's defense held off a late run by NAIA Division II No. 5-ranked Evangel College as the Eagles closed out the Bethany University Christmas Classic with a 66-65 win over the Crusaders on Friday afternoon in Scotts Valley.

Biola improves to 9-4 on the season and has now won six of its last seven games after a pair of frustrating losses. Evangel drops to 9-3 overall after its second-straight loss.

The Eagles were led by junior Josh Salo, who poured in a team-high 18 points off the bench. Senior forward Danny Jones added 17 points and six assists. while sophomore forward Rocky Hampton scored 16 points and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.

The Crusaders received 34 points from Jackson Capel, who hit 8-of-11 from beyond the arc and was 9-of-17 overall in the game.

The two teams battled throughout the game with neither team holding a lead of seven points in the contest. Biola took a late lead thanks to a three-point play by Jones with just over two minutes remaining. After forcing an Evangel turnover, Marlon King made it a three-point lead with 1:24 to go by converting a one-and-one chance.

The Crusaders back within a point on a pair of free throws with around a minute left on the clock and got a chance at a final shot after holding the Eagles without a basket. However, Biola's defense smothered Evangel and did not allow the Crusaders a shot in the final 30 seconds of the game.

The Eagles are off until 2008 when they host The Master's College on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m.