LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University men's basketball team dropped their season opener to Eureka this past Saturday, 84-69, in Louisville, Ky.  

The Golden Eagles took an early 3-1 lead following and-one layup and free throw by Tylan Mann. However, the Red Devils responded with a 10-0 run taking a 13-3 lead at the 15:46 mark. Spalding fought their way back trimming the margin to one-point on a Troy Amanor layup, but a six-point spurt by Eureka stretched the deficit back to seven at the half.

The Red Devils scored the first five points out of the halftime break to increase their lead to 12 points, but the Golden Eagles answered, outscoring Eureka 21-10 over the next eight and a half minutes cutting the Red Devils lead to two points when Christian Stewart split a pair of free throws with 9:00 to play. Nevertheless, an Ian Milsteadt layup ignited a 21-8 run to close the game as Spading fell, 84-69.

A deciding factor in the game was Eureka's ability to get to the rim outscoring the Golden Eagles in the paint, 52 to 28.  

Marcus Montgomery led the way in scoring with 15 points for Spalding while finishing 5-of-16 from the field. Christian Stewart had 13 points in the game while pulling in eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles will return to action at home Saturday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET.