LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Spalding men's basketball team topped Westminster, 74-67, to 10-11 overall and 9-5 in SLIAC play. The win places the Golden Eagles in a tie for third in the SLIAC standings with the Blue Jays.
THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 74 – Westminster 67
LOCATION: Columbia Gym | Louisville, KY.
RECORDS: Spalding 10-11 (9-5 SLIAC) | Westminster 10-11 (9-5 SLIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams traded baskets early, at the 18:39 mark, Westminster's Stu Hollandsworth found the bottom of the net, but
Brendan Holt drove in for a layup to tie the game 2-2. The Golden Eagles and Blue Jays would exchange baskets for the next eight minutes, again, Hollingsworth would hit a jumper to give Westminster a four-point lead, 18-14, with 9:26 to go. Down two,
Dominique Ellis would hit back-to-back three-pointers igniting a 30 to 6 Spalding run capped off by a Holt layup that send SU into the halftime break leading, 44-42.
- Leading by 20 at the half, Spalding would have to fight off a comeback attempt by the Blue Jays over the final 20 minutes. Westminster would force turnovers on back-to-back plays, scoring five quick points on a three from Collin Caywood and a Hollandsworth jumper, and would eventually cut the lead to three points after a scoring nine unanswered points. With 1:51 left to play, Bendingfield found himself at the line, he would hit both free-throws to push the lead to five, 70-65. Spalding would then control the ball and the clock the remainder of the game, hitting free-throws and moving the ball allowed the Golden Eagles to come away with the victory 67-74
NOTABLE STATS
-
Marcus Montgomery scored 17 points,
Dominique Ellis added 16 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Bendingfield scored 15 points.
- Spalding outshot the Blue Jays 56 to 44.4 percent overall and 57.1 to 29.2 percent from long range. Spalding also won the battle on the glass outrebound Westmin, 34 to 29.
FOR THE FOES
- Romo Tabb led the Blue Jays with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Collin Haywood and Hollandsworth scored 12 points apiece.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Wednesday night, February 6
th at home taking on the Greenville Panthers at Columbia Gym at 8:00 pm EST.
