LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Robert Bendingfield found Brendan Holt who knocked the go-ahead jumper with 22 seconds remaining to push the Golden Eagles past Iowa Wesleyan, 68-65, Saturday afternoon at Columbia Gym. With the win, Spalding improves to 3-4 on the season and 3-0 in SLIAC play.   
 
THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 68 – Iowa Wesleyan 65
LOCATION: Columbia Gym | Louisville, Ky.   
RECORDS: Spalding 3-4 (3-0 SLIAC) | Iowa Wesleyan 1-6 (0-3 SLIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the first half, the Tigers jumped out to a quick 9-6 lead, but a Dominique Ellis three-pointer and
Bendingfield layup put SU in front, 11-9, at the 13:46 mark. However, IWU outscored Spalding 19-9 over the next seven minutes to pull ahead, 28-20. Seven Bendingfield points over the final five minutes of the half help the Golden Eagles trim the Tigers lead to one at the half, 35-34.  
 
- Back-to-back SU turnovers allowed IWU to extend their lead to six points on an Austin Rebel layup. A Bendingfield and-one and Holt layup in transition jumpstarted a 10-2 SU spurt capped off by a Marcus Mongomery three-pointer to put SU in front, 44-42. After a pair of lead exchanges, Spalding looked to be in control after a pair of Ellis free throws and Bendingfield jumper extended SU's lead to five points with 2:16 to play, but the Golden Eagles found themselves trailing, 65-64, following six straight Tigers points. It looked as if Spalding was about to let one slip away when Ellis missed a pair of free throws giving IWU possession up one with 1:05 to play. However, Bendingfield came up with a huge steal with 40 seconds to go and found Holt on the other end for the go-ahead jumper putting SU in front 66-65. After a defensive stop, Bendingfield pulled down his 13^th rebound of the game and converted a pair of free throws to make the final score, 68-65.
 
- Bendingfield, last week's SLIAC Player of the Week, had another great performance recording a game-high 20 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Ellis also finished in double-figures scoring 18 points on a 6-of-9 performance from the field, including a 4-of-5 mark from beyond the arc. Holt had was an efficient 4-of-7 field scoring eight points, and freshman Jerry Coleman tallied six points, four rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes of action.

FOR THE FOES
- Austin Rebel caused fits for the Golden Eagles in the paint tallying 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jake Neubauer also finished in double-figures with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Wednesday, December 12 heading to Danville, Ky. to take on the Centre Colonels at 7:00 pm EST.