ELSAH, Ill. – The Spalding University men's basketball team topped Principia, 78-61, Thursday night at the Hay Field House. With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 1-3 overall and 1-0 in SLIAC play.  

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 78 – Principia 61
LOCATION: Hay Field House | Elsah, Ill.
RECORDS: Spalding 1-3 (1-0 SLIAC) | Principia (0-1 SLIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Principia shot 54.2 percent from the field including 62.5 percent from beyond the arc to take a 37-30 lead into halftime. The Panthers knocked down their first three shots to take a 6-0 lead on a Micah Paulson jumper at the 16:00 minute mark. Over the next 2:10, the Golden Eagles responded with a 9-2 run taking a 9-8 lead on a Robert Bendingfield jumper in transition. SU and Prin exchanged the lead seven times over the next nine minutes, but the Panthers connected on their last four field goal attempts to take a 37-30 lead into the break.

- In the second half, the Golden Eagles sliced through the Principia defense for high-percentage shots connecting on 67.7 percent of shot attempts scoring 28 points in the paint. A Clark Davidson layup to open the second half pushed the Principia lead to nine, but back-to-back layups by Brendan Holt and Bendingfield jumpstarted a 12-2 run to put the Golden Eagles in front following a Craig Ashe layup at the 15:55 mark. A pair of Clarkson layups helped the Panthers regain a 45-42 lead with 13:41 to play, but back-to-back layups by Dominique Ellis and Bendingfield put SU in front, 47-45. A pair of Trevaughn Goodman free throws tied score at 47 all, but an Ashe layup ignited a 13-2 Golden Eagles run capped off by a Marcus Montgomery steal and layup as SU pulled away the remainder of the game to make the final margin, 78-61.

- The backcourt duo of Bendingfield and Ellis led the Golden Eagles offense scoring 22 point apiece. Bendingfield along with Troy Amanor pulled down a team-high seven rebounds; while Ellis passed out a team-best four assists. Marcus Montgomery also finished in double-figures with 10 points, shooting 50 percent from field. Ashe and Holt led the frontcourt each pulling down six rebounds, while Ashe scored eight points and Holt finished with six.  

FOR THE FOES
- Goodman and Paulson led the Panthers. Goodman scored a team-high 22 points, while Paulson finished with 20 points.  
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles host their SLIAC home opener Saturday, December 1 taking on Eureka College. Tip is 3:00 pm EST at Columbia Gym.