JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Spalding men's basketball team defeated MacMurray, 88-74, Wednesday night at Bill Wall Gymnasium, rising to 5-9 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
 
THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 88 – MacMurray 74
LOCATION: Bill Wall Gymnasium | Jacksonville, Ill.
RECORDS: Spalding 5-9 (4-3 SLIAC) | MacMurray 4-10 (1-6 SLIAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Golden Eagles took the lead early due to sophomore Marcus Montgomery hitting a three in the first 15 seconds. SU did not lay off the Highlanders, never giving up the lead. After playing a close game for the first 10 minutes, Spalding jumped out to a 24-17 lead over MacMurray. In a crazy series of events with 6:44 left in the first half, the Golden Eagles scored three points, missed three shots, stole the ball twice, and grabbed an offensive rebound. Junior Dominique Ellis began the events by hitting a layup after being fouled by the Highlanders' Connor Vincent. After Ellis hit his free throw, sophomore Robert Bendingfield stole the ball and took a mid-range jumper. Freshman Jacob Coke grabbed the offensive rebound, but missed his following layup attempt. Following the defensive rebound by the Highlanders' Derek Bourke, Marcus Montgomery stole the ball and passed it to Dominique Ellis who missed the three-point attempt. After an eventful first half, Spalding went to the locker room leading MacMurray 42-29.
 
- Following the break, both teams started the second half slow, scoring only 14 points in the first five minutes combined. However, both offenses turned it around in the last 15 minutes, especially Spalding's Marcus Montgomery. He went 4-7 from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line, scoring 16 points in the process. Montgomery led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 34 points, making 10-18 shots (including six three-pointers), and going 8-9 from the charity stripe. 6-6 sophomore Brendan Holt led the team in rebounding with nine total boards, grabbing one offensive and eight defensive rebounds. Sophomore guard Robert Bendingfield led Spalding with seven assists, nearly half of the team's total of 16.
 
NOTABLE STATS
- Despite losing the battle in the paint, 40-30, the Golden Eagles shot the best they have all-season from the three-point line, going 9-19 good for 47.4%.
 
FOR THE FOES
- Derek Bourke led the Highlanders in scoring, with 16 points, followed closely by Trevor Voss with 15. Bourke also grabbed 10 rebounds, good for a double-double. The team leader in rebounds was Wade Fox with 12. Bourke again led the Highlanders with six assists.
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Saturday, January 12 at home against Blackburn, taking on the Beavers at 3:00 pm EST.