Box Score

Senior Thomas Blakemore scored 24 points and Will Barber added 17 points to lead the Spalding University men's basketball team to a 78-69 win over Transylvania University Saturday afternoon.

With the win, SU extends their current win streak to four, while improving to 4-5 overall and 2-0 in SLIAC play.

The Golden Eagles trailed 8-0 to start the game, but a Thomas Blakemore jumper ignited an 11-0 Spalding run to give SU an 11-8 lead.

The Pioneers responded with five unanswered points to take a 12-11 lead, but William Barber converted a three-point play on SU's next possession and Spalding went to the half holding a 37-35 lead.

Barber hit a jumper on Spalding's second possession out of halftime to push the SU lead to four at 39-35. The Golden Eagles outscored Transy 13-7 over the next eight minutes to extend their lead to nine points at 52-43.

The Pioneers battled back, Ethan Rowe hit a jumper and connected on back-to-back three-pointers, as Transy went on a 13-2 run to regain the lead at 56-54.

Blakemore knotted the game 56-56 with a tip in off a missed Barber three-pointer and Brandon Gabriel connected from long range to spark a 10-2 Spalding run, giving SU a 66-58 lead with 2:56 to play.

Transy's Alex Jones scored seven points over the last 2:56, but SU knocked down six clutch free throws in the final minute to earn the 78-69 victory.

The Golden Eagles held Transy to 44.9% shooting from the field, while SU shot 48.1% from the floor. Spalding also won the battle on the boards, out-rebounding the Pioneers 34-26.

Brandon Goeing scored 10 points on 3 of 8 shooting, to join Blakemore and Barber as Golden Eagles who scored in double-figures.

Blakemore grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to go along with his 24 points.

Brandon Gabriel and Quayshaun Hamilton also had solid games. Gabriel scored seven points and dished out a game-high four assists, while only committing one turnover. Hamilton scored nine points, connecting on 3 of 4 field goal attempts.

Parker Stansbury led Transylvania with 18 points, while connecting on 50% of his shots.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action Saturday, January 4 when they host Fontbonne University. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m., ET at Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG).