LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dominique Ellis knocked down a game-tying three-pointer with 14 seconds left in regulation as the Spalding men's basketball team gutted out a 69-65 win in overtime against Blackburn College Wednesday night at Derek Smith Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles improve to 6-7 on the season and 4-3 in conference play, while Blackburn drops to 8-6 and 4-3 in SLIAC play.  

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 69 – Blackburn 65
LOCATION: Derek Smith Gymnasium, Louisville, Ky.   
RECORD: Spalding 6-7 (4-3 SLIAC), Blackburn 8-6 (4-3 SLIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spalding raced out to an early 4-0 lead following back-to-back layups by Brandon Williams and Brendan Holt. A Williams free throw would stretch the SU lead to seven, their largest lead of the game, with 1:27 to play in the half, but Blackburn would counter with a pair of baskets to end the half cutting the SU margin to three at the break, 24-21. After a back and forth first three minutes of the second half including five lead changes, Blackburn looked to be taking control of the game. Down one, the Beavers strung together an 18-6 run to take a 46-35 lead with 12:16 to play. Trailing by 10-points with 9:22 remaining, Spalding began to claw back into the game when a pair of Robert Bendingfield free throws sparked a quick 4-0 spurt getting SU within six points. The Golden Eagles trimmed the Beaver lead to two points or less three times over the next nine minutes, but could not get over the hump. Finally, with 14 seconds left trailing by three, Bendingfield hit Domo Ellis coming off a curl and Ellis rises up knocking down a game-tying three-pointer forcing the game into overtime. In overtime, Williams knocked down a pair of free throws and Keith Wallace converted a layup to give SU a 64-60 lead with 4:12 to play. Blackburn would cut the SU lead to one-point twice, but Bendingfield would convert a pair of free throws and Reed Rusten's three-point attempt would miss the mark as SU claimed the victory, 69-65.

- Senior Brandon Williams led the Golden Eagles with a double-double scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Dominique Ellis finished with 13 points including the game-tying basket. Freshman Brendan Holt score a efficient 10 points going 4-of-5 from the field and added two blocks on the defensive end.

- A key factor for SU earning the victory was winning the turnover battle. The Golden Eagles forced 25 Beaver turnovers resulting in a plus seven margin in points off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
- Big man Malcom Scott led the Beavers with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Karson Hayes scored 15 points and Reed Rusten added 12 points.

UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles return to action Saturday, January 13 on the road at Greenville University. Tip-off is 4:00 pm EST at H.J. Long Gymnasium in Greenville, Ill.