SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri Baptist University men's basketball dropped its second straight game Saturday afternoon, falling to Evangel University, 89-76, despite a team-high 21 points from Evan Palmquist.

With the loss, the Spartans fell to 2-6 on the season and remain in search of their first victory on a three-game road trip that concludes next week.

Palmquist led MBU in scoring, adding five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. The junior shot an efficient 7-of-13 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Three other Spartans scored in double figures: Preston Fortner (14 points), Courtland Soll (12), and Breven McMullen (10). Fortner also tallied four assists and two steals, Soll contributed five rebounds, two assists, and a steal, and McMullen chipped in one rebound and two assists.

MBU shot 40.9 percent from the floor but struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 8-of-28 attempts for a 28.6 percent clip.

Evangel found success at the free-throw line, hitting 28 of 30 attempts (93.3 percent), a key factor in its 13-point victory. MBU went to the line 20 times, sinking 14 free throws for a 70 percent mark.

The Valor led 52-34 at halftime, a deficit the Spartans could not overcome despite outscoring Evangel by five points in the second half.

The Spartans will return to action Thursday, taking on Mission University on the road. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.