LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University men's basketball team ended the season on a positive note, clinching a share of the SLIAC regular season championship for the third straight season with a 63-55 win over Westminster. The win puts Spalding at 16-9 this season and 13-5 in the SLIAC.
 
Brandon Goeing scored 16 points, netting 4-of-8 attempts from three-point range. Brandon Gabriel added 15 points, eight assists and zero turnovers. James Turner scored 13 points and Renaldo "Bud" Moore added 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
 
The Eagles came out slow, allowing Westminster to jump out to a 14-5 lead just five minutes into the game. Chris Leon sunk a pair of free throws and nailed a free throw line jumper to kick start a 19-5 SU run that gave  the Golden Eagles a 24-19 lead with 5:24 remaining in the first half. Westminster answered, hitting three consecutive three-pointers during a 15-3 run that put Spalding down seven and the Eagles trailed 34-29 at the half.
 
Spalding used a trio of three-point field goals to start the second half on a 13-5 run to give them a four point lead. Several minutes later with the lead still at four, James Turner put together a string of key plays. He recorded three blocks on two possessions before hitting a pull-up jumper to put SU up six.  James Abrams stole the ball on the ensuing possession and fed Turner, who scored a tough layup while being fouled to give Spalding an eight point lead with less than four minutes remaining. Westminster scored the next five points, but a timely three pointer from Goeing put the game out of reach. 
 
Up next, the Golden Eagles will compete for their second SLIAC Tournament Championship in three years. Currently Spalding, MacMurray and Webster are tied in first place with five losses each. Spalding is a possible host site for this year's tournament depending on the outcomes of Tuesday's games.

Courtesy of Evan Skaggs