LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Eureka, 87-84, Saturday afternoon at Derek Smith Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles fall to 1-4 on the season, and 0-2 in conference play.

Nick Trisko earned a double-double in the first half, leading SU to a 43-31 lead at the end of the first half. As a team, the Golden Eagles shot just under 50 percent from the field, while Eureka was held to just 32 percent. After playing to a 6-6 tie, Spalding went on a 9-3 lead by four points by Trisko to pull ahead 15-9. The Golden Eagles gradually increased their lead over the remainder of the half and an Owen Mumphrey gave SU a 12-point lead at the break.

Eureka improved their shooting in the second half, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles dropped their shooting percentage in the second half down to 44 percent. However, three-point shooting separated the teams, with Eureka closing gap going 7-of-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc in the second half, while SU made just one of seven. Spalding opened the half up 12 and pushed the margin to a game-high 14 points following a layup from Trisko with 13:16 to play. The Golden Eagles looked to be on their way to a win after freshman Steven Gordon knocked down a pair of free throws to give Spalding an 82-73 lead with 1:15 to play. However, Eureka's Kendall Davis had other plans scoring 12 points in 58 seconds, while SU missed six free throws resulting in a nine-point lead turning into a one points deficit after Davis drilled the go ahead jumper with 10 seconds to go. SU had 10 seconds to answer, but Rylan Rowe was tied up for a jump ball with two seconds remaining to give the ball back to Eureka. EC's Hank Thomas hit a pair of free throws to make the margin three points and Rowe's heave at the horn missed to the left of the rim as SU fell, 87-84.

Trisko led Spalding with 22 points and 16 total rebounds, followed by Stephen Gordon who added 12 points and seven boards. Eureka's Shea Feehan lead all scorers with 27 points, while Kendall Davis added 26 points, all coming in the second half.

Next, the Golden Eagles will host Berea College on December 6^th. The game is set for 7pm at Derek Smith Gymnasium in Louisville, Ky.