SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — Two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Bethel (Kan.) Threshers visit the Evangel Valor.

Bethel (7-1), receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25, looks to rebound from its first loss of the season, a narrow 70-69 defeat at Friends on Wednesday. Carmelo Yakubu led the Threshers with 19 points and eight rebounds in that contest. Prior to the loss, Bethel had won seven straight, averaging 84.1 points per game.

Evangel (5-3) enters on a modest two-game win streak, most recently edging Saint Mary 63-62 on Wednesday behind Jacob Lafferty’s 17 points and seven rebounds. The Valor’s season has been marked by volatility, including an overtime win and a 23-point loss to Avila.

The matchup features a contrast between Bethel’s high-scoring offense and an Evangel team that has allowed 62 points or fewer in its last two outings. The teams will meet again in North Newton, Kansas, on Jan. 31, 2026.