LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a thrilling SLIAC matchup at Derek Smith Gymnasium, the Spalding University men's basketball team edged past Mississippi University for Women with a hard-fought 64–62 win. The Golden Eagles battled from start to finish, pulling out the close victory thanks to timely buckets and stout defensive stands down the stretch.

TURNING POINT
Spalding jumped ahead early, taking a 28–26 lead into halftime, but MUW roared back in the second half to keep the game intensely competitive. After a series of lead changes, the Golden Eagles managed to maintain possession in the final moments, securing the slim two-point advantage as the clock expired.

The Spalding offense was led by Jaelen Leavell, who finished with a team-high 18 points and was a consistent scoring threat throughout the contest. Lekendrick Morris provided a strong all-around performance, adding 16 points and contributing on both ends of the floor. DeAireus Wells chipped in 12 points, complementing Spalding's balanced attack.

On the MUW side, Tray Huguley led all scorers with 22 points, while Tyler Shephard added 20 in a valiant effort to keep the Owls within striking distance. Despite their strong play, MUW fell just short in the final minute as Spalding's defense made key stops to preserve the win.

The win improves Spalding's conference record and highlights the team's resilience in tight situations, while MUW showed grit and competitiveness that will serve them well in the SLIAC race.

NEXT FOR SPALDING
SU will travel to SLIAC opponent Webster on Thursday, February 5th. The Golden Eagles will face Webster. Tip-off is set for 8:30 pm.