LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Spalding held off a late charge from Berry to earn a dramatic 68–67 victory, improving to 6–5 overall and 1–2 in SLIAC play while Berry dropped to 4–7, 0–1 in the SAA.
TURNING POINT
The Golden Eagles and Vikings fought through a tightly contested contest that featured multiple lead changes, six ties, and a final outcome decided in the closing possessions of the second half.
Berry jumped out to a slight edge in the first half, closing that period with a 35–34 lead thanks in large part to standout scoring from Cameron Pope and Ryan Luttrell, who each tallied 18 points. Pope was efficient from the field (8-16) and worked hard on the boards, while Luttrell made four three-pointers, keeping Berry competitive throughout.
Spalding's offense was balanced, with several contributors chipping in.
DeAireus Wells led the Eagles with 14 points, connecting on six of ten shots and adding two triples, while
Devonte McCampbell and
Kameron Jones each scored 10.
Marlin Byron and
Xavier Burton also provided key scoring and defensive plays as Spalding fought to maintain a narrow advantage down the stretch.
The second half remained tight as neither team could create much separation. Spalding's ability to convert key free throws and take advantage of timely baskets allowed the Eagles to stay just ahead of Berry. When the final buzzer sounded, Spalding's late execution gave them the one-point edge in a game where every possession counted. Defensively, both teams battled, but Spalding's slight edge in rebounding (38–37) and bench scoring helped tilt the balance.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES
