LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Defiance Yellow Jackets, 73-72, Monday evening at Columbia Gym. The loss drops Spalding's record to 3-7 overall, while Defiance improves to 1-8.

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Defiance 73 – Spalding 72
LOCATION: Columbia Gym | Louisville, Ky.   
RECORDS: Spalding 3-7 | Defiance 1-8

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Early on, the Golden Eagles took a 3-2 lead on a Dominique Ellis three-pointer, but the Yellow Jackets responded outscoring Spalding 20-10 over the next 10 minutes to take a 22-13 lead. Marcus Montgomery bookended a 13-3 Spalding run knocking down back-to-back three-pointers and capped off the run with a layup on the break to put the Golden Eagles in front, 26-25. After four lead exchanges, Montgomery knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the half and hit a jumper at the horn to send the Golden Eagles into the locker room leading, 34-31.
 
- Spalding looked on track to break the game open early in the second half, scoring nine unanswered points in the first 2:07 extending their lead to 12 points following a Troy Amanor layup in transition. The Golden Eagles kept the lead a double digits through the 14:34 mark, but the Yellow Jackets pieced together a 23-8 run over the next 6:50 to flip a 10-point deficit into a five-point lead. Spalding responded with a 14-6 spurt to pull ahead, 71-68, following an Ellis layup with 1:21 remaining in regulation. However, the Golden Eagles converted just 1-of-4 free throw attempts, and missed the frontend of two 1-and-1 opportunities allowing Defiance to close the gap stealing the victory on a layup with 0.8 of second remaining.
 
- Montgomery led the Golden Eagles with 25 points going 10-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while also pulling in five rebounds. Ellis added 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Amanor scored 10 points and hauled in five rebounds.

FOR THE FOES
- Jordan Maschino paced the Yellow Jackets with 17 points, while Tyler Andrew and Marell Jordan each added 13 points.
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action this Friday and Saturday at the St. Andrews Products Classic at Trine University. Spalding opens the tournament Friday at 7 pm EST against the host Trine Thunder, and close out the weekend Saturday at 3 pm EST against the Adrian Bulldogs.